How Travel is Good for Your Health

How Travel is Good for Your Health Vacation's Impact on Health The average American spends 261 days commuting, filling out time sheets and wondering what's for dinner what's for dinner? Men who do not vacation annually have a 20% higher risk of death and about 30% greater risk of death from heart disease 100% 50% - 0% Women who take vacations are 50% less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who don't 50% Women who don't take vacations are more than 2x as likely to suffer from depression as other women who choose to take a vacation 2X The benefits found from engaging in multiple leisure activities including vacations are: 2 3 lower blood pressure lower stress hormones help you live longer Women who took a vacation once every 6 or more years were 8x more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack, than women who took at least 2 vacations a year Research shows that after a few days on vacation, participants were: 80% registered an 80% improvement in their reaction time, as averaging an hour more of good quality sleep measured by vigilance testing According to Jens Pruessner, an associate professor of psychology, psychiatry, neurology and neurosurgery at McGill University in Montreal: A vacation is not a luxury, it's an investment on your health Vacation reduces stress. Stress squashes your immune system and has been shown to increase your odds of suffering from: 2 3. adrenal dysfunction headaches irritable bowel syndrome Not taking a break can elevate the amount of the stress hormone cortisol in your body which speeds up the aging process Facts and figures About Paid Vacation Approximately 459 million vacation days go unused in the United States per year More than 1/3 of American workers don't take advantage of their vacation days Of those who do go on vacation, only 14% go away for more than two weeks at a time 14% Most countries give 30 days off In countries like Germany, UK and the Netherlands, employers are required to provide up to 20 days of paid' leave However, Americans get an average of 12 days per year 12 1 in 4 U.S. workers do noł receive any paid vacation or paid holidays More Reasons Why Travel is Beneficial You'll simply be a more well-rounded person. You'll create lasting relationships with people you meet along the way. You'll develop skills you didn't know you had, like being able to climb to the top of a mountain. You'll learn geography. You'll go on fun adventures. You'll meet folks from other cultures and learn that the way you look at the world is not the way everyone else does. You'll get a chance to forget about work, school, chores and other responsibilities and just relax. You'll have opportunities to try new things. You'll eat local delicacies you have never tasted before. You'll have more life satisfaction because you participate in leisure activities. Sources: http://www.airtreks.com/ready/why-we-love-to-travel/17-reasons-why-travel-is-good-for-you/ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=l11887591 http://www.quickquote.com/cms/Blogs/Outlive_Your_Term_Life_Insurance_Policy_Take_A_Vacation_660.html http://www.daytondailynews.com/lifestyle/experts-vacations-good-for-your-health-1182779.html http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/30/health/la-he-brain-on-vacation-20110530 http://www.employmentlegalblawg.com/2008/06/vacations-have-health-benefits.html http://www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/how-not-taking-vacations-harms-your-health This graphic made for CityPASS ©City Pass, Inc. Rights released for editorial use 30