Spring break 2013 vacation for heart health and more

Thursday, March 14, 2013 by: Antonia
Tags: Spring Break, heart health, vacation

(NaturalNews) Many Americans and Canadians work longer hours, take fewer vacations, and retire much later than many other industrialized countries, but at what cost?

Spring break 2013, happening right now and some time into April, is generally a break from school and is practiced in the United States, Canada, and some other countries.

But are we taking breaks from work?

Work-related stress can cause cognitive, physical and emotional exhaustion, often resulting in a lower immunity and overall poor health.

"Dr. Sharon Toker of Tel Aviv University's Faculty of Management and her fellow researchers -- Profs. Samuel Melamed, Shlomo Berliner, David Zeltser and Itzhak Shpira of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine -- have found a link between job burnout and coronary heart disease (CHD), the buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that leads to angina or heart attacks."

A question was posed in Bed Times Magazine -- Do vacations make you healthier?

A study by Kuoni Travel and Nuffield Health, presented in The Holiday Health Report 2013 followed 12 people in 2012, half of which went on vacation.

The results: Vacationers blood pressure dropped by six percent, workers blood pressure rose two percent during the study period. Sleep quality also improved in vacation goers, with negative results for workers who skipped the vacation. Stress recovery was significant, again, in favor of those who took a break from work.

"Other health benefits of vacationing were a decrease in blood glucose levels, reduced risk of diabetes, trimmer waistlines, enhanced mood and better energy levels."

Not only can benefits be felt during spring break or any vacation, but for some, up to months after coming back home.

Health and fitness vacations

While spring break for many is notorious for including binge drinking, poor eating (it is often called pizza break after all), and sleep deprivation, the more 'health conscious' are choosing the relaxation route, especially in this day and age where more people are becoming aware of the advantages to paying attention to their health, and the disadvantages of not.

To leverage the already advantageous health benefits of vacation, many specifically seek health-related vacations, a "break" from the everyday that perhaps promises "rustic beach cottages, certified trainers leading fitness sessions, healthy food, excursions like biking through Mayan ruins, spa services, and enough down time to make my vacation my own." Sound appealing?

Let's hope that spring break 2013 is being embraced by more than just party-going college and university kids, and is appealing to workers and those who value more healthy lifestyles.

If downtime is key to a healthy heart and overall health, let's embrace it, shall we?

Sources for this article include:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/03/130312134906.htm
http://bedtimesmagazine.com/2013/03/do-vacations-make-you-healthier/
http://ca.news.yahoo.com
http://www.kuoni.co.uk
http://www.ajc.com

About the author:
A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. >>> Click here to see more by Antonia