Heart-healthy habits can be fun and exciting too, though. Case in point: According to a 2019 study in Psychology & Health, travel — yep, going on vacation — is another way to greatly reduce your risk of heart problems.
In that study, 63 workers took approximately five vacations over the course of 12 months. They got their blood drawn, too, since the study was measuring metabolic syndrome (aka conditions associated with cardiovascular disease) and metabolic symptoms such as high blood pressure.
The research found that as people spent more time on vacation, their metabolic syndrome incidence and number of metabolic symptoms decreased. In other words, more vacation days may mean fewer heart-related issues.
According to experts, this correlation makes sense. “If done properly, travel can be very beneficial for your cardiac health,” said Dr. Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at Vital Solution.
Ahead, cardiologists explain the various ways travel benefits your heart.
Travel reduces stress.
According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, 57% of people return from vacation feeling less stressed, and 68% return with more positive feelings.
If you ask them why, they might point to the time spent relaxing and away from work, or their experience seeing a beautiful country. There’s also the excited anticipation people feel before a trip, how they gain a more trusting outlook while traveling, and more.
Even short trips positively affect a person’s well-being and reduce stress, according to a 2018 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Not getting that relief can affect the heart. “Chronic stress is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease, as it elevates cortisol levels, which can increase blood pressure, lead to inflammation and promote atherosclerosis,” said Dr. Chris Davis, the chief cardiologist at HumanN. “Travel offers a psychological reset by removing individuals from their usual environments that may trigger stress.”
He also explained how relaxation and novel environments activate the parasympathetic nervous system, or the “rest and digest” system. This improves heart rate variability, he said, which is a marker of cardiac health.
Those aren’t the only connections, either. “Decreased stress can help with heart health by lowering blood pressure, improving blood sugar control, improving cholesterol and reducing inflammation in the…
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