Air Date: Week of August 2, 2002

Living on Earth’s Jessica Penney reports on how vacations may not always be a good way to relax.

Transcript

Just ahead, designer genes with a DNA label. First, this Environmental Health Note from Jessica Penney.

[MUSIC UP AND UNDER]

PENNEY: If you feel well-rested after your summer vacation, count your blessings. According to a new survey, most people come back from a holiday more worn out than before they left. The Gallup Poll was funded by a drug company that wanted to promote good sleeping habits.

Of the survey respondents, 54 percent said they returned from vacation feeling tired, including 19 percent who said they felt very tired or exhausted. Of the reasons for this fatigue, many people cited a lack of sleep associated with the trip. Some folks stayed up late packing the night before the trip, and others stayed up late partying once they got to their destinations.

Vacationers also complained of unfamiliar beds causing lost sleep. The most tiring vacations were trips to amusement parks and camping. The most relaxing vacations were cruises. Employers with groggy workers should note that another problem vacationers mentioned was the pressure placed upon them to work longer hours before a trip to make up for lost time.

And a final note for those visiting family: You might want to carefully pick just which relatives you see. Because vacationers from that category gave the most varied responses. That’s this week’s Health Note. I’m Jessica Penney.

[MUSIC UNDER]

CURWOOD: And you’re listening to Living on Earth.

[MUSIC: LIAM FINN, "LUCID DREAM," RED ROOM, RAIN, SOUNDTRACK, EMI, 2001]

 

Links

Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc. press release on the poll