Unmanaged stress causes some of the highest healthcare costs Israelis practice yoga poses on salt crusts in the Dead Sea. UPI/Debbie Hill CLEVELAND, May 2 (UPI) -- Internet-based stress management programs effectively reduce stress for a sustainable period, U.S. researchers say. "Our recent findings provide individuals and employers with a new option to consider for themselves or their employees' stress management," Dr. Michael Roizen, chief wellness officer at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a statement. Unmanaged stress causes some of the highest healthcare costs for employers and has a lasting impact on everyone; this study implies such health effect may be readily reduced. The study involved 300 study participants who completed an eight-week stress management program where they received online relaxation practice materials, strategies to help cope with life's stressors, stress assessments at the beginning and end of the program, and daily topics to inspire participants to continue the meditation and relaxation techniques. The study, published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, found the program participants, compared with a control group, showed a significant decrease in perceived stress from high levels to average, as well as greatly improved emotional well being, compared with the pre-program results and to participants of the control group. Results confirmed a positive correlation between the number of meditations completed per week and perceived stress reduction, Roizen said.