Vacation Longer, Live Longer
40-year Study Shows How Long You Should Vacation
You know it’s true: Vacations help you unwind and help your health. Now, a new, 40-year study from the University of Helsinki, Finland, proves it. The finding, published in The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, shows that those who took three weeks of vacation a year or more had lower death rates than those who took shorter vacations.
A report about the study on inverse.com explains that the research followed 1,222 male executives of middle age. They were recruited into the study between 1972 and 1975, and each had one underlying factor related to heart disease, such as high blood pressure or glucose intolerance. The study divided the men into a control group and an intervention group, which received regular medical advice and even medication to control blood pressure, while the control group received typical health check-ups but were not seen by the research investigators.
The intervention group demonstrated the effect vacation time had on death rates over a 40-year period, quoting study author Timo Strandberg:
"...men with shorter vacations worked more and slept less than those who took longer vacations. This stressful lifestyle may have overruled any benefit of the intervention.”
A European Society of Cardiology press release on the study reports that in the intervention group, men who took three weeks or less annual vacation had a 37% greater chance of dying in 1974 to 2004 than those who took more than three weeks. Vacation time had no impact on risk of death in the control group. (see figures)
The ESC quotes Strandberg with his warning that there really is no substitute for the stress-relieving value of a vacation: "Don't think having an otherwise healthy lifestyle will compensate for working too hard and not taking holidays. 'Vacations can be a good way to relieve stress.” He goes on to say that modern-day emphasis and stress-relieving practices and newer medications can impact outcomes for today's patients with heart disease risk: "...stress reduction is an essential part of programs aimed at reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle advice should be wisely combined with modern drug treatment to prevent cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals.”
Invest in Vacation Time at the Shore
Convinced you and your family could use a vacation? Head to Cinnamon Shore, and stay longer than a weekend. Much longer. Book your vacation now.
And if you're interested in investing in a vacation home, consider Cinnamon Shore realty opportunities at our original community, Cinnamon Shore North and our new expansion, Cinnamon Shore South. Learn more about Cinnamon Shore Real Estate.
Sources:
European Society of Cardiology, "Take A Vacation It Could Prolong Your Life," August 28, 2018
Inverse.com, "Taking a Vacation Could Extend Your Life," June 25, 2020
Published by Jennifer Chappell Smith
Friday, July 10, 2020