Road Trip! Health Net Points Out the Health Benefits of Vacations
July 03 2014 - 4:00PM
Business Wire
With summer now in full swing, Health Net, Inc. is working to
increase awareness that taking a vacation not only can be fun, but
it also can help bring a variety of health benefits.
While it might be assumed that Americans happily take time off,
the reality – according to Glassdoor’s Q1 2014 Employment
Confidence Survey – is that the average U.S. employee only takes
half of his or her eligible vacation time. The survey also
says:
- Among those who actually do go on
vacation, three in five admitted to doing some work; and
- A quarter of vacationing employees were
contacted by a coworker, and 20 percent were contacted by their
supervisor, about a work-related issue.
“That’s a shame,” said Steve Blake, vice president of Clinical
Operations at Managed Health Network, Inc., a subsidiary of Health
Net, “because a number of studies have shown that taking time away
from the job can have physical and psychological health
benefits.
“Workers who don’t take advantage of the vacation time that
they’re eligible for could be shortchanging themselves in terms of
benefits to their health,” added Blake.
Downtime May Decrease Heart Disease
A host of studies have highlighted the potential
cardiovascular-health benefits of taking a vacation, including:
- The Multiple Risk Factor Intervention
Trial for the Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease sponsored by the
National Institutes of Health’s Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
The trial followed 12,000 men over a nine-year period that had a
high risk for coronary heart disease. The study found that any such
men who take frequent annual vacations were 21 percent less likely
to die from any cause and were 32 percent more likely to die from
heart disease.
- The landmark Framingham Heart Study –
the largest and longest-running study of cardiovascular disease –
revealed that men who didn’t take a vacation for several years were
30 percent more likely to have heart attacks compared to men who
did not take time off. And women who took a vacation only once
every six years or less were almost eight times more likely to
develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack compared to
women who vacationed at least twice a year.
Other Upsides of Downtime
In addition to reducing the risk of heart disease, studies have
shed light on several other potential health benefits associated
with vacationing, including:
- Decreased depression – A study
conducted by Marshfield Clinic of 1,500 women in rural Wisconsin
determined that those who vacationed less often than once every two
years were more likely to suffer from depression and increased
stress than women who took vacations at least twice a year.
Similarly, the University of Pittsburgh’s Mind Body Center surveyed
some 1,400 individuals and found that leisure activities –
including taking vacations – contributed to higher positive
emotional levels and less depression. The benefits of vacationing
also extended to lower blood pressure and smaller waistlines.
- Less stress – A study released
last year by the American Psychological Association concluded that
vacations work to reduce stress by removing people from activities
and environments that tend to be sources of stress. Similarly, a
Canadian study of nearly 900 lawyers found that taking vacations
helped alleviate job stress.
- Improved productivity – The
professional services firm Ernst & Young conducted an internal
study of its employees and found that, for each additional 10 hours
of vacation employees took, their year-end performance ratings
improved 8 percent, and frequent vacationers also were
significantly less likely to leave the firm. Additionally, research
by the Boston Consulting Group found that high-level professionals
who were required to take time off were significantly more
productive overall than those who spent more time working.
“Many of these studies point to the importance of achieving
balance in life,” said Blake. “At MHN, for example, we offer a
series of work-life seminars to help manage stress and enhance
wellness by striking a balance between meeting daily
responsibilities and challenges, while also weaving in
relaxation.”
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Medical Advice Disclaimer
The information provided is not intended as medical advice or as
a substitute for professional medical care. Always seek the advice
of your physician or other health provider for any questions you
may have regarding your medical condition and follow your health
care provider’s instructions.
About Health Net
Health Net, Inc. (NYSE: HNT) is a publicly traded managed care
organization that delivers managed health care services through
health plans and government-sponsored managed care plans. Its
mission is to help people be healthy, secure and comfortable.
Health Net provides and administers health benefits to
approximately 5.5 million individuals across the country
through group, individual, Medicare (including the Medicare
prescription drug benefit commonly referred to as “Part D”),
Medicaid, U.S. Department of Defense, including TRICARE, and
Veterans Affairs programs. Health Net also offers behavioral
health, substance abuse and employee assistance programs, managed
health care products related to prescription drugs, managed health
care product coordination for multi-region employers, and
administrative services for medical groups and self-funded benefits
programs.
For more information on Health Net, Inc., please visit Health
Net’s website at www.healthnet.com.
This release contains references and links to other websites
that may contain content that is not owned or controlled by Health
Net. Please be aware that references or links to other websites are
provided for the user’s convenience and that Health Net is not
responsible for any such content that is not owned or controlled by
Health Net. Health Net does not express an opinion on any such
content and disclaims any liability in connection therewith.
Health Net, Inc.Lori Rieger, (602)
794-1415lori.rieger@healthnet.comwww.twitter.com/hnlori
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