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That relaxing vacation may be just what the doctor ordered.

Article Excerpt
Could a vacation save your life? Some research suggests that might not be too far of a reach. Studies have shown that taking at least one vacation per year increases longevity by reducing the kind of stress that has been linked to heart attacks, hypertension, depression and other illnesses.

A study done by psychologists at State University College at Oswego, N.Y., which was reported in Psychosomatic Medicine, showed that men who take more frequent vacations have a 30% lower risk of dying of heart disease, and women have a 50% less change of dying of heart disease, compared to those who don't vacation.

Dr. Michael T. Allen, chair of the department of psychology at the University of Mississippi, said the authors of the Psychosomatic Medicine article report a beneficial relationship between taking vacations and cardiovascular mortality, but they also point out alternative explanations that preclude a definitive statement about increased vacations causing lower mortality.

"Despite this, there are a number of reasons to think that vacations could be beneficial to your health," Allen said. "Some of these are removal from the stressful work and home environment, anticipation of a positive event weeks before the vacation with attention drawn away from more worrying thoughts, more time spent with family and friends in hopefully a positive environment, and a greater sense of perspective about everyday problems and stresses. This latter reason reflects the notion that when one...

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