Take a vacation, doctor's orders!
In this season of summer, many of us will leave for vacation and enjoy a well-deserved restful escape after months of isolation due to the Covid pandemic. I thought this was an interesting time to review the health benefits of such precious moments when we can forget about work and enjoy life fully.
Taking some time off decreases heart disease
A host of studies have highlighted the potential cardiovascular-health benefits of taking a vacation, including:
The Framingham Heart Study showed that men who didn't take a vacation for several years were 30 percent more likely to have heart attacks compared to men who did not take time off. And women who took a vacation only once every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack compared to women who vacationed at least twice a year.
The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial for the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease followed 12,000 men over a nine-year period that had a high risk for coronary heart disease. The study found that any such men who take frequent annual vacations were 21 percent less likely to die from any cause and were 32 percent more likely to die from heart disease.
Pittsburg University researchers showed a decrease in blood pressure during vacation time.
Vacation breaks improve sleep patterns and reduce stress
One of the benefits of going on vacation is for sure the fact that we can finally rest and reduce the stress in our daily life.
Researchers found that vacations can help interrupt the habits that disrupt sleep, like working late into the night or watching a TV or computer screen before bed. We are able to sleep longer and often deeper –often after the first few days of jet lag adaptation. This helps regulate our cortisol production and enhances our resistance to stress.
A study released last year by the American Psychological Association concluded that vacations work to reduce stress by removing people from the activities and environments that they associate with stress and anxiety.
Taking a vacation has been shown to have many psychological benefits
Vacation “makes you feel good.” When you are doing something that makes you happy your brain will give you a boost of dopamine, the hormone and neurotransmitter that makes you feel good. You will feel happier with the discovery of new places and the start of new activities. All these changes will stimulate your brain, keeping you alert and willing to do even more, and has beneficial effects on how you feel.
A study conducted by Marshfield Clinic of 1,500 women determined that those who vacationed less often than once every two years were more likely to suffer from depression and increased stress than women who took vacations at least twice a year. Similarly, the University of Pittsburgh's Mind Body Center surveyed some 1,400 individuals and found that leisure activities – including taking vacations – contributed to higher positive emotional levels and less depression.
Vacationing can also make you lose weight
You might not believe it but the same study at the University of Pittsburgh showed that the benefits of vacationing extended to smaller waistlines!
From our experience at VitaLifeMD many of our patients that come back from a trip in Europe—especially from France (please excuse my chauvinism! But it is true) tell us: “I ate a lot but so well and I walked a ton…as a result, I lost weight.” And the scale always confirms it.
And what happens when you are back:
Not surprisingly your productivity at work or for any activity in your life (mom at home) will be improved substantially. That is what I call “recharging your batteries!”
The company Ernst & Young conducted an internal study of its employees and found that: “For each additional 10 hours of vacation employees took, their year-end performance ratings improved 8 percent, and frequent vacationers also were significantly less likely to leave the firm.”
The Boston Consulting Group found that high-level professionals who were required to take time off were significantly more productive overall than those who spent more time working.
Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read’s recommendations for this summer
We have been confined way too long over the past 2 years; it is time to start living a real life again and enjoy every moment.
Try to keep some precautions to avoid getting sick with Covid and for sure wear a mask on a plane. Try to avoid big crowds and large spreading events. But start living an almost normal life again and if you get sick, then call us. And keep in mind that we now have treatments that work well for this nasty virus.
And do not forget to laugh and add humor to your life.
Laughter improves your immune system; positive thoughts can release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses.
Dr. Lee Berk, Associate Dean of Research for Loma Linda University, has been studying all the beneficial effects of laughter on health and now describes it as “one of the best natural approaches to medicine.” He encourages people to laugh every day. Laughter can make you feel good in the present. Build up good health in the future and work to combat negative health from the past.