Heart Health and Vacation Homes

If you don't want to die of a heart attack - then buy yourself a vacation home! Okay, now that I have your attention, I'll explain about this experiment on middle aged men in New York:

You may think that you have heard it all before, but here we have some proof. Having a vacation can actually save your life, but, having your own vacation home is even better, as the relaxation factor is built in after the first two or three visits.

The reason for this is because it takes about two or three visits for the second home to feel not only like ' home', but like a home that you know is strictly for relaxation.

Once you have spent two or three vacations in the place and familiarity sets in, your whole psychological system will become 'conditioned' to the awareness that this home is the place where you de-stress. Eventually just getting on the flight will do it, if you always use the same carrier.

Yes, research in New York, carried out on over 12,000 middle aged men, revealed some interesting facts. Those who did not take regular vacations were more likely to die over a nine year period than those who did. They were especially prone to death by heart problems. (If you feel like you need a break - show this to your spouse!)

If you are interested in the scientific jargon - or need proof - it is reported that the death rates were most significant between the 13% of participants who never took a vacation and the 26% that took five vacations per year. The 'five a year' vacation group had a one third less chance of dying than the 'no vacation' group.

If you are a man married to a workaholic wife, then read on: middle-aged women who took infrequent vacations were eight times more at risk of either having a heart attack and/or of dying of heart disease.

Wow! Where's my bucket and spade – I am out of here! Oh, not so fast; it says infrequent vacations represent ones that are at least six years apart.

The average couple would feel really extravagant paying for five vacations a year, but there is an alternative. They can enjoy the excitement of buying a vacation home in a wonderful place and zooming off five times a year; it is a wonderful idea for family holidays with all the grandchildren. (But not five times a year - please!)

It is also an investment in real estate. The prices of homes on the property market have doubled in the last ten years. There is no savings account with that kind of interest!

There were other benefits listed in defense of taking five breaks a year (or at least several breaks). Some of these were experiencing better sleep while on the break; coming home with fewer physical complaints and feeling more optimistic and energetic after the break.

Well, you can't buy good health, they say, but according to this report, it looks like you can buy yourself part-way towards it!