What really prolongs life?

Longer life? According to a study by the Max Planck Institute, life expectancy can be extended up to seven years. It is important not to smoke, not to be overweight, and to consume only moderate amounts of alcohol.

But not enough

What other factors positively affect life expectancy? Those who take more than three weeks off each year are less stressed and live longer than those who only take short breaks. This is especially true for people who already have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is stated in a Finnish study presented at the European Congress of Cardiology in Munich.

At least three weeks vacation

Executives who took three weeks or fewer vacations a year had a 37 percent higher risk of dying early than those with longer vacations, even if they generally followed a healthy lifestyle. Professor Dr. Timo Strandberg from the University of Helsinki at a press conference in Munich.

The study included 1222 Finnish male administrators with at least one cardiovascular risk factor followed for at least 40 years. Hours of work, sleep time and vacation times were recorded, among other things. Some of the men were asked to adopt a healthy lifestyle orally and in writing every four months for five years and were given medications against risk factors if needed. Control group members only received the usual treatment. Despite the healthy lifestyle, men in the first group had a higher risk of premature death.

Stressful lifestyle has a stronger effect.

“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 health interventions benefit,” Strandberg said. According to him, stress reduction should therefore be an important part of company programs aimed at reducing risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. (CENTIMETER)