Lifestyle Underwriting

This is what 365 days without a vacation does to your health

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Source: This is what 365 days without a vacation does to your health

One week ago we were hiking the mountains in and around Aspen Colorado.  It was a glorious getaway surrounded by gorgeous natural beauty.  Our MGS (mountain goat son)  gave us a glimpse into his new life, living and working in the Roaring Fork Valley.  The original plan was to spend a long Labor Day weekend with MGS but he had other plans.  Right now he’s in Utah on a kayak and camping trip with friends from work.

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It’s all about balance.  When working, work your ass off.  When you’re not working, make damn sure you truly take time off to pursue whatever you find enjoyable and forget totally about work.  Disconnect!!!  Leave all of your inconvenient 24/7 devices at home.  The emails can wait until you get back.

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One of the life lessons I’ve passed along to MSG and his brother RocDoc came in the form of a question.  Be brutally honest and ask yourself this:

Do you live to work or do you work to live?

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Stroke Rounds: Long Work Hours, Stroke and CHD Risk Associated | Medpage Today

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via Stroke Rounds: Long Work Hours, Stroke and CHD Risk Associated | Medpage Today.

“Working 55 hours or more a week was associated with significant 33% increase in stroke risk and a more modest 13% increase in risk of developing coronary heart disease, compared to working 35 to 40 hours weekly, in the analysis of published and previously unpublished prospective cohort studies from the U.S., Europe, and Australia.”

One could argue for causation given the strength of association identified by this study.  Common sense tells us that anyone working more than 60 hours a week is going to have considerably less time for other activities like exercise and time with family and friends.  Long hours working also can lead to neglect of one’s health.

A Little Exercise Goes a Long Way for Older Adults | Medpage Today

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A Little Exercise Goes a Long Way for Older Adults | Medpage Today.

“This protective effect appears dose-dependent and is already significant for a low dose of moderate to vigorous physical activity (or about 15 min per day), which is below current recommendations for older adults,” they stated. “These results can guide future recommendations for older adults and may improve adherence to regular physical activity programs and thus their global health.”

Some good news about getting older!

Diet and Colon Cancer Risk – CBS News

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Two-week diet swap shows impact on colon cancer risk – CBS News.

They found that only two weeks of diet exchange was enough change the makeup of the intestinal microbiota and affect a number of biomarkers associated with colon cancer risk. The rate of cell turnover in the intestinal lining, levels of fiber fermentation, bacterial metabolic activity, and inflammation all reflected the change in eating patterns.