CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A new online poll conducted by WKQC-FM radio reveals that balancing family and work and traffic from the daily commute are the leading causes of stress in the city, according to the respondents. The poll also found that Charlotte residents are most likely to react to stress by eating too much or eating unhealthy food. Eisai Inc. and PriCara(TM), Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc., sponsored the poll as part of a program about acid reflux disease that they are conducting in Charlotte.
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, such as traffic on the way to work, 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 Richard Sigmon, MD, internist and gastroenterologist, Charlotte Medical Clinic, "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 too much or 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, such as ACIPHEX(R), or rabeprazole sodium, a prescription medication that reduces acid production in the stomach. People should talk to their doctors to find out what they can do to control their acid reflux disease," Dr. Sigmon said.
According to Dr. Mramor and Dr. Sigmon, 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. Be sure to check with your
doctor before starting any new exercise program. Watch your caffeine
and alcohol intake - both can upset your sleep patterns as well as
trigger acid reflux disease.
-- Make time for yourself. Take the time to read a book, watch a movie,
garden or indulge in a warm bath. You may also want to try a new hobby
or join a club.
-- Set realistic goals. Don't try to take on too much at once. If you
feel overwhelmed by responsibilities and events in your schedule, learn
to say "no" or at least to find an acceptable compromise.
-- Find someone with whom you can talk. Seek out the support and guidance
of friends, colleagues and family members. You may find that you are
not the only one having a bad day.
-- Don't worry about what you can't control. Some things are completely
out of your control, like traffic and the weather. Identify what you
can't change and learn to let it go.
About ACIPHEX(R) (rabeprazole sodium)
ACIPHEX(R) is a prescription medication. One ACIPHEX 20 mg tablet daily is used for the treatment of persistent, frequent (2 or more days a week) heartburn and other symptoms associated with acid reflux disease.
ACIPHEX is also used for the short-term (4 to 8 weeks) treatment in the healing and symptom relief of damaging (erosive) acid reflux disease (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and to maintain healing of damage (erosions) and relief of heartburn symptoms that happen with acid reflux disease. ACIPHEX has not been studied for treatment lasting longer than 12 months (1 year).
Important Safety Information
ACIPHEX has a well-established safety profile. The most common side effect possibly related to ACIPHEX is headache. Symptom relief does not rule out other serious stomach conditions. Patients on warfarin (such as Coumadin(R)) may need to be monitored more closely by their doctor. To learn more, talk to your doctor and see the important product information at http://www.aciphex.com/.
To obtain more information about acid reflux disease, please visit http://www.aciphexoffer.com/.
About Acid Reflux Disease
Acid reflux disease occurs when stomach acid regularly escapes into the esophagus. A common symptom is heartburn. Persistent, frequent (2 or more days a week) heartburn, despite use of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and diet changes, could be acid reflux disease (sometimes referred to as GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease). It's a condition that could get progressively worse if left untreated. Acid reflux disease can cause a number of symptoms in addition to heartburn, including regurgitation, belching, bloating, and early satiety (feeling full too soon).
Survey Methodology and Results
The survey was conducted by WKQC-FM, Charlotte, through an online survey of 40 listeners on behalf of Eisai/PriCara, May 31-June 14, 2007. When asked what causes them the most stress, 27.5 percent of respondents reported balancing family and work; an additional 25 percent reported that traffic from the daily commute caused the most stress. Additionally, 22.5 percent of respondents reported that they are most likely to react to stress by eating too much; 20 percent of respondents are likely to eat unhealthy food in reaction to stress. For complete survey results, please contact Greg Panico of PriCara, Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc., at gpanico1@gpcus.jnj.com or Judee Shuler of Eisai Inc. at judee_shuler@eisai.com.
About Eisai Inc.
Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Eisai focuses its efforts in three therapeutic areas: neurology, gastrointestinal disorders and oncology/critical care. Established in 1995 and ranked among the top-20 U.S. pharmaceutical companies (based on retail sales), Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business with sales of approximately $2.6 billion in fiscal year 2006 (year ended March 31, 2007). Eisai Inc. employs approximately 1,500 people at its headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, N.J., at its state-of-the- art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and in the field. For more information about Eisai, please visit http://www.eisai.com/.
About PriCara (TM), Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc.
PriCara(TM), Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc., is a major healthcare company dedicated to the needs of primary care providers who serve a vital role on the frontline of medicine. Based in Raritan, N.J., PriCara provides high quality prescription medicines, education and resources in the areas of pain, gastrointestinal and infectious diseases. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.pricara.com/.
ACIPHEX is a registered trademark of Eisai Co., Ltd.
Coumadin is a registered trademark of Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company.
Eisai Inc.; PriCara(TM)
CONTACT: Judee Shuler of Eisai, +1-201-746-2241; or Greg Panico of
PriCara(TM), +1-908-927-3715
Web site: http://www.eisai.com/
http://www.pricara.com/
http://www.aciphexoffer.com/
