( CNN ) -- `` I guess you want to have a heart attack ? '' That is the question you should ask yourself every time you put off taking a vacation . Here 's the deal . Studies have shown that not taking vacations is linked to health problems . And if people skip vacations , there 's a chance that they may die younger than those who do n't . I think employers should be required to post warning labels in the workplace similar to those on cigarettes packs . I 'd love to see a big sign in the break room that reads : `` WARNING : Working too many weeks without a vacation is going to kill you . Seriously , you are going to die from it . '' We are all well aware that stress is harmful to our health . It causes problems ranging from ulcers to body aches to insomnia . Vacations are one of the major antidotes to stress . Travel : Relax , it 's only a vacation . One study found that men at high risk for coronary heart disease , and who failed to take annual vacations , were 32 % more susceptible to dying from a heart attack . Another study compared women who vacationed at least twice a year to those who took one every six years or less . Astoundingly , the women who did not vacation annually were almost eight times more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack . As a nation , we are obsessed with work . Some view taking a vacation as a sign of weakness . Others who have n't vacationed in years see it as a badge of honor . And still others apologize for taking a vacation , as they feel guilty for taking time off even though they have earned it . The average American worker has 14 vacation days per year , but most only use 12 of those days . Worse than that , about 25 % of Americans do n't take any vacation at all . The U.S. is the only industrialized nation in the world that does not legally require workers to be provided a set number of paid vacation days . This is in stark contrast to Europe where the European Union mandates that workers be provided with 20 paid vacation days every year . Anyone wants to guess which place has higher life expectancy : U.S. or Europe ? European countries win , of course . In fact , the U.S. is 28th in the world in life expectancy . If saving your life is n't enough of a reason to take a few vacations , here is another : People who take annual vacations are more productive . A 2010 study found that 35 % of Americans feel better about their job and are more productive after a vacation . Vacations have been found to help us recharge -- we sleep better during them and for a period of time afterwards . And our brain responses become quicker after vacations . As difficult as it is for some to believe , working more hours does not necessarily translate to a better bottom line or higher productivity . For example , Greeks work the most in Europe -- averaging 2,017 hours per year . Yet , they are no better off as their economy is a wreck . Now take a look at Germany -- Europe 's economic powerhouse . I 'm sure some would guess that the Germans work longer hours . Wrong . Germans work on average 1,408 hours per year , placing them second to last among the 25 European nations in hours worked annually . They also receive on average 30 paid vacation days a year -- the most in Europe . A vacation does n't have to be two weeks on the French Riviera . It can be a trip to the Jersey shore -- the real one , not the one with Snooki and Mike `` the Situation . '' It could be a camping expedition or a few days in the mountains . Â The point is -- it could be as adventurous or low key as you want it to be . I have seen first hand the consequence of not taking regular vacations . My father -- the workaholic -- hated vacations . He refused to take them on annual basis . Sadly , he passed away some years ago after his third open heart surgery at a much younger age than his peers . There 's no doubt that stress reduction -- such as yearly vacations -- could have extended his life . Travel : Readers share vacation planning tactics . So if you 're thinking of skipping your vacation , it 's not too late to change your mind . The summer just started . You 'll feel better rested , healthier and more productive . Or , you can choose to keep working non-stop like a hamster running on a wheel that keeps going faster and faster . Until , finally , one day , you collapse , are carried off on a stretcher , and replaced by a similar looking creature . What 's it going to be ? The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah .
Studies show not taking vacations is associated with health problems . Dean Obeidallah : As a nation , we are obsessed with work . He says working more does not necessarily mean a better bottom line . Obeidallah : The average American spends about 20 hours per week at the office.