Health Benefits Of Vacationing
A team of Syracuse University researchers have found that people who vacationed more frequentlyĀ in theĀ 12Ā months preceding the studyĀ hadĀ a lower risk forĀ metabolic syndrome,Ā a collection of conditions dramatically increases the risk ofĀ heart disease, stroke and diabetes.Ā They report that the 63 participants in theirĀ investigationĀ took approximately five vacations, using about two weeks of their paid vacation days over the course of a year. The more vacation days they took, theĀ lower their prevalenceĀ of metabolic syndrome symptoms. Overall, the risk observed for developingĀ metabolic syndrome decreased by nearly a quarter with each additional vacation the study participants took, compared to theirĀ peers who didnāt vacation.Ā Study leader Bryce Hruska, an assistant professor of public health, said he and his team are still learning what it is about vacations that make themĀ goodĀ for heart health, ābut at this pointā¦we do know that it is important for people to use the vacation timeĀ that isĀ available to themāĀ andĀ that taking advantage of vacation time āwould translate into a tangible health benefit.āĀ Ā
My take?Ā TheseĀ interestingĀ findings bolster earlier research on the health benefits of vacations,Ā including a reduced risk of all causes of death and, more specifically, of deaths due to heart disease for middle aged men at high risk.Ā A study ofĀ female participantsĀ in the long-running Framingham Heart Study found that women who vacationed onlyĀ once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than those who took at least two vacations a year.Ā Ā
I consider vacations a form of preventive medicine. I know that I needĀ changes of sceneryĀ andĀ activitiesĀ to disengage from my usual pressures and routines. By getting away physically from the daily grindĀ –Ā and without being tethered to it by cell phone or laptopĀ –Ā you can help rejuvenate your body and refresh your mind.Ā
Source:
Bryce Hruska et al, āVacation frequency is associated with metabolic syndrome and symptoms,ā Psychology & Health, June 17, 2019,Ā doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2019.1628962Ā
More from this weekās bulletin:Ā
- Working Long Hours Linked To StrokesĀ
- Low Carb Diet For Metabolic SyndromeĀ
- Tasty Sumer Recipe:Ā Lemon-Garlic Hummus With Pita ChipsĀ
