for eMaxHealthA new online poll of more than 1,500 Denver residents conducted by KOOL-FM radio reveals that traffic from the daily commute and the cost of living are the leading causes of stress in Denver.
The poll also found that Denver residents are most likely to react to stress by eating unhealthy foods or getting less sleep. Eisai Inc. and PriCara, Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc., sponsored the poll as part of a program about acid reflux disease that they are conducting in Denver.
While stress affects people in a variety of ways, everyone experiences stress at some point in life. Stress can even lead to behaviors that may aggravate symptoms of certain conditions, such as acid reflux disease, which affects more than 7 million Americans. Conversely, engaging in healthy behaviors in response to stress may prevent symptoms of reflux from getting worse.
"Stress from things you can't control, like traffic or the cost of living, may lead to behaviors that can have an effect on your health," said Nancy Mramor, PhD, noted health psychologist. "My goal is to help people take steps to lessen their stress and have a healthy response to stress."
According to Neil Toribara, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Denver Health Medical Center, "In my practice, I see an increasing number of patients suffering from acid reflux disease. While stress does not cause acid reflux disease, it can lead to behaviors, such as eating unhealthy foods, which may aggravate the condition.
"In addition to finding ways to lower their stress levels through lifestyle changes, there are treatment options for acid reflux disease available to patients. People should talk to their doctors to find out what they can do to control their acid reflux disease," Dr. Toribara said.
Treatment options for acid reflux disease include prescription medications that reduce acid production in the stomach, such as ACIPHEX, or rabeprazole sodium.
According to Dr. Mramor and Dr. Toribara, the following simple lifestyle changes can help ease stress:
-- Lead a healthy lifestyle. Eat sensibly, get enough rest, exercise regularly and balance work with play.
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