Live longer
What really extends life?
If you want to increase your life expectancy, you often have to change your lifestyle. A healthy diet, more exercise and adequate sleep promise miracles.
If you want to live longer, you have to take a vacation. This is balm for the soul – and also affects physical health.
longer life? According to a study by the Max Planck Institute, life expectancy can be extended by up to seven years. It is important not to smoke, not to be overweight and to only drink moderate amounts of alcohol.
But it is not enough
What other factors positively influence life expectancy? Those who have vacations of more than three weeks each year live less stressed and longer than someone who only allows themselves short breaks. This is especially true for people who already have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is indicated by a Finnish study presented at the European Cardiology Congress in Munich.
At least three weeks vacation
Managers who took three weeks or less vacation time a year had a 37 percent higher risk of dying prematurely than those with longer vacations — even when they generally followed a healthy lifestyle. “No one should believe that an otherwise healthy lifestyle can make up for working long hours and not taking vacations,” said Professor Dr. Timo Strandberg from the University of Helsinki at a press conference in Munich.
The study involved 1222 Finnish male managers who had been followed for at least 40 years and had at least one cardiovascular risk factor. Among other things, working hours, sleep duration and vacation times were recorded. Some of the men were asked verbally and in writing every four months for five years to adopt a healthy lifestyle and were given medication to counteract risk factors if necessary. Control group members received only usual treatment. Despite the healthy lifestyle, the men in the first group had an increased risk of premature death.
The stressful lifestyle has a stronger influence
“Study participants with shorter vacations worked longer and slept less than those with longer vacations. This stressful lifestyle is likely to have a greater impact than the health interventions are bringing benefits,” said Strandberg. In his view, stress reduction should therefore be an essential part of company programs that aim to reduce risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. (CM)
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