Thats the finding of a study linking travel to decreased risks of heart attack & depression & even the promotion of brain health. Travel offers the same sort of physical and cognitive benefits as crossword puzzles or museum visits. Women who vacationed every 6 years or less had a significantly higher risk of developing a heart attack or coronary death compared with women who vacationed at least twice a year. Men who did not take an annual vacation were shown to have a 20 % higher risk of death and about a 30 % greater risk of death from heart disease. Benefits of travel are almost immediate. After only a day or two, 89 % of respondents saw significant drops in stress.