The promising results from a recent study on heart disease may have more doctors "prescribing" vacation time for their patients.

A few years ago, Wilma Kovacs said goodbye to stress when she started following the advice she had been giving others on a regular basis. "Vacations are necessary in life's crazy day-to-day situations. Stress levels are so high, the only way to get away from stress is to get away from stress."

A new study reported in The Journal Of Psychosomatic Medicine demonstrated the positive power behind taking time off regularly. Cardiologist Elizabeth Cintron explains, "So women that took vacations were less likely to have heart disease."

Just planning a vacation, whether it is a day at the beach or a week on the high seas, can help put us in a more relaxed state of mind. Dr. Cintron says, "I think that anything that works to reduce your stress level and make you feel good about yourself. Relaxation is a great way to reduce your stress."

Go ahead and be creative when it comes to finding the time, to get away. Wilma says, "You need to find the time. And it doesn't have to be a week long, a mini-vacation start on a Friday, come home on a Sunday, as long as you understand the components of total relaxation and doing what you need for you."

Taking full advantage of your vacation time means you should leave both your cell phones and pagers at home. Good advice, but will you follow it?

To make your vacation time even more relaxing, experts suggest looking for opportunities to experience the power of massage and physical activities like surfing or horseback riding.