Many people think of traveling as a once-in-a-while luxury, but you may want to put “take a vacation” at the top of your to-do list. Research shows that traveling just might offer some health benefits, both physical and mental. And it doesn’t have to be a faraway getaway; a vacation could just be a mental break from your typical duties and responsibilities.

Here, we’ll dive into six possible health benefits of traveling and how often you have to travel to reap those rewards.

6 possible health benefits of traveling

From potentially reducing your risk of heart disease to lowering your stress levels, traveling may affect your well-being and quality of life. Here are the most common possible benefits of traveling, backed by science.

1. Lowers your risk of heart disease

Vacations aren’t just good for your soul; they’re good for your heart too. Research shows that traveling may reduce the risk of heart disease. In one study, researchers monitored male people at risk of heart disease for 9 years. After the trial period, they found that the people who vacationed every year had about 30% less risk of dying from heart disease.

The famous Framingham Heart Study showed similar results. The researchers monitored female participants for 20 years. Researchers found that the people who took the least amount of vacation time (about one vacation every 6 years) were about two and a half times more likely to have a heart attack than people who vacationed once per year.

Dr. Terrell Smith, M.D., M.P.H, is the director of clinical health at Spora Health. He points out that vacation time is also associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that can increase your chances of stroke, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

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2. Boosts your immune system

Frequent travel may also boost the immune system. “When you’re exposing yourself to a range of different ecosystems, your body can get adapted to different types of bacteria and create stronger antibodies that keep you healthy,” says Smith. 

However, there are two sides to this story. It’s also common for travelers to get sick when they go abroad. This can be because of poor sleep, exposure to so many people and their germs, or contaminated food or drinks.