A landmark 40-year Finnish study suggests that taking regular vacations may help prolong life, especially for those at high cardiovascular risk.
The Helsinki Businessmen Study tracked 1,222 middle-aged male executives born between 1919 and 1934, enrolled in 1974-1975. All participants had at least one heart disease risk factor, including smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, high triglycerides, glucose intolerance, or obesity.
Participants were randomly assigned to a control group (610 men) or an intervention group (612 men) for five years. Every four months, the intervention group received personalized oral and written guidance on aerobic exercise, healthy eating, weight control, and quitting smoking. When lifestyle changes weren't enough, they were prescribed contemporary medications like beta-blockers, diuretics, clofibrate, and probucol to manage blood pressure and lipids. The control group continued with routine healthcare without study involvement.
Previous results showed a 46% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk in the intervention group at study's end. Yet, during the 15-year follow-up through 1989, mortality was higher in the intervention group.
Researchers observed persistently higher death rates in the intervention group until 2004, after which rates equalized between 2004 and 2014.
Shorter vacations emerged as a key factor in the intervention group. Men taking three weeks or less of annual vacation were 37% more likely to die between 1974 and 2004 compared to those taking longer vacations. Vacation length had no impact on mortality in the control group.
These results affirm that health education isn't harmful but underscore stress reduction—through vacations—as vital to cardiovascular risk programs. Experts recommend integrating lifestyle counseling with modern pharmacotherapy for optimal prevention in high-risk individuals.
