RightHealth Daily Dose » vacation http://dailydose.righthealth.com We feature the one health item you simply cannot afford to miss. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:18:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 The Nature Of Summer Vacation And Mortality http://dailydose.righthealth.com/environmental/the-nature-of-summer-vacation-and-mortality/ http://dailydose.righthealth.com/environmental/the-nature-of-summer-vacation-and-mortality/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:31:18 +0000 Steven http://dailydose.righthealth.com/?p=2116 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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]]> http://dailydose.righthealth.com/environmental/the-nature-of-summer-vacation-and-mortality/feed/ 4 Don’t Have A Holiday Heart http://dailydose.righthealth.com/cardiology/dont-have-a-holiday-heart/ http://dailydose.righthealth.com/cardiology/dont-have-a-holiday-heart/#comments Fri, 26 Dec 2008 06:33:26 +0000 Steven http://dailydose.kosmix.com/?p=992 Drinking too much this holiday season can do more than cause a bit of inebriation. Consuming relatively large amounts of alcohol can cause what physicians term “holiday heart syndrome“, a condition where alcohol stimulates the heart to go into arrhythmias (an abnormal heart rhythm) – even in healthy individuals without cardiac problems. Symptoms of holiday heart syndrome typically include palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and chest pressure/pain or discomfort. This condition can occur during any periods of increased alcohol consumption – binge drinking on weekends, during vacations, and, of course, during holidays. It’s usually self-limited and benign. But if you feel any of the symptoms above for an extended amount of time (minutes to hours), you should get checked out by your physician or seek medical attention at the emergency room. The only way to prevent holiday heart is to use your judgment in exercising moderation.

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