Vacations are good for the soul. They allow us to break our routine, connect with our spiritual self, and put us in a state of positive being. In addition to all the other benefits, here is another reason you should take a vacation. A new study reveals that vacations can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The research conducted by Syracuse University professors Bryce Hruska and Brooks Gump and other researchers found that people who vacation more frequently in the past 12 months have a lowered risk for metabolic syndrome and metabolic symptoms.
Bryce Hruska explains, “Metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. If you have more of them you are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This is important because we are actually seeing a reduction in the risk for cardiovascular disease the more vacationing a person does. Because metabolic symptoms are modifiable, it means they can change or be eliminated.”
Another study also has found that men at risk for heart disease who skipped vacations for five consecutive years were 30 percent more likely to suffer heart attacks than those who took at least a week off each year. Studies find similar results with women: Women who took a vacation once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop heart disease, have a heart attack or die of a coronary-related cause than those who took at least two vacations a year.
If you are going on vacation this summer, make sure to take CARAVAN with you. Our Movement for Travel series is designed for travelers to release tension while on the road or in a hotel room.