Whether it’s reducing stress, avoiding cardiovascular disease, boosting your libido or replenishing vitamin D, going on vacation is very good for your health and it’s scientifically proven.
While hundreds of thousands of French getting ready to hit the road for vacation, some still feel guilty about quitting their job when there is still so much to do. However, taking a vacation is good for mental and physical health, it is proven by science. To help you ease your conscience, Why Doctor takes a non-exhaustive tour of the known benefits of leave here.
It’s good for the heart
In June, a study published in the journal Psychology and Health showed that the holidays had a beneficial effect on the heart. By studying 63 workers entitled to paid leave, they observed that “people who had taken vacations more frequently in the past year were less likely to develop syndromes and metabolic symptoms”.
“The metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The more you have, the greater your risk of developing cardiovascular disease,” it said. Thus, going on vacation reduces the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
It allows you to live longer
Last summer, another study presented at the Congress of the European Society of Cardiology went in the same direction by emphasizing the reduction of stress during the holidays and its long-term impact on longevity. The researchers had followed a thousand men born between 1919 and 1934 for years. Among these participants, all had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease (smoker, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, glucose intolerance, overweight, etc.) .
Scientists have compared lifestyle changes to healthier habits and regular vacations. Result: a very healthy lifestyle does not compensate for the lack of rest. Because the shortest holidays were associated with a higher mortality rate.
Thus, between 1997 and 2004, men who had taken three weeks or less of annual vacation were 37% more likely to die than those who had taken more than three weeks of vacation. In conclusion, vacations help relieve stress and live longer.
It boosts libido
Whether it’s couples or summer adventures, the sexuality of Europeans is boosted during the holiday period. According to a survey carried out for Lastminute.com during the summer of 2017, they would indeed be 37% to be sexually active during this period.
In detail, the Spaniards would be those who gave themselves the most to their heart’s content: 45% of them claim to make love more often. Then come the Italians (38%), the French (35%) and the British (29%). But before you let yourself be carried away by the mild summer air, remember to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections, they also increase during holiday periods.
It’s good for replenishing vitamin D
Who says summer vacation says sun (unless you have decided to go to the depths of Antarctica). And, when combined with natural light, the skin synthesizes vitamin D, which is extremely beneficial for the body. Among these many benefits, it has been proven that this vitamin can increase muscle fibers, further improving the sports abilities of people.
It is also known to play a role in heart structure and function. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to cardiovascular deficits. In June, a study carried out on women over the age of 55 also showed that those who had a high concentration of vitamin D had five times less risk of developing breast cancer than the others.
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