Holidays extend life

Taking AT LEAST three weeks off work a year ‘beats making lifestyle changes’

GOING on holiday for at least three weeks each year could extend your life.

A long-term study found working too hard can be deadly for stressed middle-aged adults.

Researchers tracked 1,200 businessmen for 30 years and found those who took less than three weeks off each year were 37% more likely to die young.

The doctors, from Helsinki University in Finland, said their findings highlight the danger of stress on the heart.

In a twist to their study, they found men who were ordered to exercise or eat healthily actually saw their health deteriorate – which they believe is because it raised their anxiety levels. But this damaging impact was reversed if the men took a holiday.

The doctors, presenting their findings at the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich, said GPs should be encouraging more of us to take a break by prescribing a holiday at the same time as giving out heart drugs or lifestyle advice.

Lead researcher Professor Timo Strandberg, from Helsinki University, said: ‘Don’t think having an otherwise healthy lifestyle will compensate for working too hard and not taking holidays.’

The study began in 1974 and involved more than 1,200 middleaged businessmen.

The team were surprised to find those given lifestyle advice and drugs were more likely to die young than those left to their own devices. Professor Strandberg said: ‘We think the intervention itself may also have had an adverse psychological effect on these men by adding stress to their lives.’

He added: ‘Drug treatment, yes, but the most important intervention to lengthen life is social.’

Professor Strandberg joked that he had a vested interest in the findings because he had taken five weeks’ holiday last year.

But Professor Joep Perk, spokesman for the European Society of Cardiology, said people need to relax and enjoy their life.

‘Asking 95-year-old people what was the reason they reached 95, almost always the response I get was: “I enjoyed life, I had a nice time.”’

Professor Martin Marshall, vice chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: ‘For some people holidays can be an effective way to relieve stress. However, whilst GPs and our teams often recommend that patients take some time away from work, or go on holiday if they are stressed, we must also be mindful that this is easier said than done for many patients, who perhaps can’t afford holidays, or simply find it difficult to get time off work.’