Job Stress Can Increase Risk Of GERD

For centuries, folk lore claimed that stress can give you a stomach ache. Today, new research scientifically ties job stress and trauma to gastrointestinal disorders.

Researchers led by Dr. Yvette Lam, a gastroenterologist at Stony Brook University Medical Center in New York, evaluated 697 patients who worked on the cleanup efforts following the September 11th terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The subjects, aged 34 to 50, were found to be twice as likely as the general population to suffer from GERD, a disease characterized by frequent acid reflux. Of the patients who had GERD, 21% were also diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 21.5% with depression, and nearly 30% with an anxiety disorder.

Other studies have shown that active duty military personnel, a job that is also considered high stress, were more likely to suffer from digestive problems than the general population. Active duty military personnel frequently complained of diarrhea, IBS, GERD and other stomach problems. It was noted that an increased risk of exposure to bacteria could be responsible for part of the increased risk of gastrointestinal disorders.

While both of these jobs represent cases of extreme stress, it may determine that mental health plays a role in digestive health. Doctors suggest that people suffering from mental health disorders and digestive problems should work to address both problems simultaneously.