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A study has shown that going on vacation reduces a person’s risk of developing heart disease.
The study, published in the Psychology & Health journal, found that the more vacations people take in a year, the less likely they are to develop metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions related to the body’s ability to convert food into energy. It may also indicate the likelihood of a person to suffer from heart disease.
Metabolic syndrome conditions include high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, as well as the accumulation of fat around the waist. The more conditions a person has, the higher the risk for heart disease.
To determine the connection between metabolic syndrome and vacations, the researchers analyzed the blood sample of 63 workers who were qualified for paid leave. They also interviewed the participants about vacations they had taken within the past year. Among the details asked in the interview were vacation length, activities done, and the participants’ appraisal of their experience.
The results revealed that the average number of vacations taken by the participants was five, and the total length of their vacations for the past year averaged at two weeks. Employees who did not take any vacation had a 46.7% chance of being diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, while those who took five breaks had only a 16% chance.
Statistics in the United States show that more than 50% of employees who are entitled to paid vacation do not take advantage of this benefit. So, the researchers said that employees should use their paid vacations more so that they may stay in good health.