Researchers report in the Canadian Medical Association Journal that there may be a seasonality of mortality. After combing through data from Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Sweden, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan they discovered that the lowest mortality rates occurred during the warm months of July to September in the Northern hemisphere and February to March in the Southern hemisphere. A multitude of factors may be at play, including better nutrition or less pandemic diseases during these months. However, the researchers offer up an intriguing thought – could environmental factors, such as taking a summer vacation, lead to decreased death rates? “Vacations can have both physiologic and psychological effects. The positive psychological effects of vacations consist of ameliorating mood, decreasing mental stress and providing a sense of recuperation and well-being that may last for at least a month after the vacation,” said the study authors. Do we really need scientific studies to tell us that vacations are good for the mind, body and soul? I think common sense can tell me that. But, it is interesting data that’s worth looking into. [CMAJ via Medical News Today]
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Dr. Steven Chang, the author of DailyDose, is a staff physician with Kosmix RightHealth. Dr. Chang practices Family Medicine at the University of California Davis Medical Center, where his medical interests include both pediatric and geriatric care, public health, gay and lesbian health, and sleep medicine. Dr. Chang trained at the Stanford University affiliated O'Connor Hospital, and was a research fellow at the National Institute of Health. He holds an M.D. from McGill University and a BA in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University.