Scientists have reported on the benefits of travel for health and stress reduction

Regular trips strengthen the cardiovascular system, reduce stress levels and increase productivity. This was reported on March 30 in the journal Medical Xpress.

"Traveling is more than memories and joy. Our research has shown that if we travel, our relationships with other people strengthen, we become more educated and healthier," said James Petrik, professor and deputy head of the Department of Hotel Management and Tourism at Texas A&M University.

As part of one of the stages of the study, scientists observed twenty students during a cruise trip. The participants wore smart watches with a health monitoring app: the devices monitored their heart rate, movements, and activity. In addition, students kept hourly diaries in which they recorded their classes. The accelerometer and gyroscope data made it possible to compare the nature of movements with indicators of cardiac activity.

The theoretical basis of the work was the cognitive activation theory of stress, according to which the body's response to stress is determined by a person's ability to cope with life's difficulties. According to Petrik, the effect of travel on the heart is similar to the principle of interval training for athletes: new experiences activate the work of the heart, and rest periods allow it to recover. It is this alternation of stress and relaxation that makes the heart muscle stronger.

Go beyond borders: Russia and China are interested in extending visa-free travel

Moscow will prepare proposals to Beijing in the second quarter of this year.

The study also showed that the length of a vacation directly affects its wellness effect: a week-long trip provides a more sustained reduction in stress compared to a three-day weekend. However, Petrik noted that the long-term effects of prolonged exposure to the environment have not yet been studied.

It is assumed that after a few weeks, a person may begin to experience stress due to separation from home and accumulated work tasks. The scientist expressed the hope that future research will make it possible to establish the optimal length of vacation.

Here's the flow: they want to make a visa-free trip to India for groups of three people or more for 21 days

Russians can freely visit 114 countries and territories already — which countries will join this list?

Earlier, on March 23, it was reported that Kaliningrad became the most popular destination for travel in Russia in April, and Istanbul is the leader among foreign routes.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.