Treatment of arterial hypertension in a spa resort
Greetings, everyone! Today's article is focused on the treatment of patients with arterial hypertension in health resorts. Many resorts at sanatoriums.com specialize in this disease, the most popular and effective are Marianske Lazne, Podebrady, Druskininkai, Birstonas and Svieradow Zdroj. Such patients are also received in Jurmala and at the Italian resorts of Fiuggi and Ischia. You can find a full list of cities using the diseases filter on our website.
Definition of arterial hypertension, indications and contraindications for treatment at the resorts
Hypertension - a chronic pathological condition of the body, which manifests itself in persistent systolic-diastolic hypertension, more simply - a persistent increase in blood pressure. The cause of this condition can be genetic predisposition, disorders of the central nervous system, neuroendocrine disorders, as well as pathological processes that lead to structural changes in the blood vessels of the kidneys and heart.
Patients with hypertension stages I-II, with slow progression of the disease, blood pressure not higher than 180/105 mm Hg, without vascular crises and pronounced atherosclerosis of blood vessels of the brain, kidneys and heart, without conduction and heart rhythm disorders, with heart failure not higher than stage I are directed to the resort. Climatic resorts with forest, seaside, mountain or plain climate, as well as balneotherapeutic resorts with radon, iodobromine and carbonic waters are suitable for such patients.
Patients with hypertension stage II, with stable arterial hypertension between 180/105 and 200/115 mm Hg, without frequent hypertensive crises, without impaired cerebral coronary blood flow, without deteriorating renal function, with non-serious conduction and heart rhythm disorders, and with circulatory insufficiency up to stage II may be referred to local health resorts for treatment. Patients with signs of hypersympathicotonia are recommended to be referred to balneotherapeutic resorts with carbonic, iodine-bromine and radon waters, as well as to climatic resorts with plain and forest climate and seaside resorts, excluding southern resorts during the hot season.
It is not advisable to direct weather-dependent patients and menopausal patients to Baltic resorts in the late autumn and early spring periods, or to resorts where the climate is characterized by abrupt changes in weather conditions. Spa treatment is contraindicated to patients with hypertension with malignant course, with hypertension stage III, with recent myocardial infarction or stroke, with circulatory insufficiency above stage II, as well as with severe disorders of rhythm and conduction disorders, disorders of renal excretory function. As you may have realized, it is quite difficult for a patient to figure out on their own what stage of the disease, which resort is best suited and when it is advisable to go to the spa treatment. Without a recommendation and examination by a specialist (cardiologist or therapist), it is not a decision! It is particularly important for patients who have had a myocardial infarction or stroke, because it is not always possible to send them to a spa treatment, and if it is possible, then only to special cardiological spa hotels.
Medical consultation
My name is Elena Khorosheva, I am the chief doctor of sanatoriums.com, specializing in pediatrician, physiotherapist and balneologist, candidate of medical sciences, practicing since 2004
I personally visit the resorts presented on our website, communicate with doctors and study the treatment bases of spa hotels in order to give you the most comprehensive and useful advice!
Elena Khorosheva
Head doctor of sanatoriums.comAsk our doctor a question
Methods of resort treatment of arterial hypertension
In the spa treatment of hypertension much attention is paid to physical methods aimed at increasing the patient's endurance to physical exertion. Sea bathing, contrast and air baths are widely used, supplemented by hypotensive, sedative and vegetative-corrective techniques. They use physical exercises, kinesiotherapy, morning hygienic gymnastics, therapeutic gymnastics in groups, therapeutic walking, controlled walking, and different kinds of sports (skiing, bicycling, skating, swimming, jogging). The range of exercises and their intensity are prescribed individually, taking into account the course of the disease, the initial level of blood pressure, blood flow and tolerance to physical activity. Before determining the distance and pace of controlled walking or running, an exercise tolerance test is always performed. Patients with a high level of physical development do not need special physical therapy classes.
Such a method as aerotherapy (air baths) is widely used - the course of treatment includes 12-20 baths. Another effective physical method is thalassotherapy, which is carried out in a mild and moderate mode at a water temperature of at least 20-22 °C. The duration of the swimming is determined by the doctor. Please note that there are contraindications to these treatments related to conduction and rhythm disorders, as well as circulatory deficiencies.
Patients whose diastolic blood pressure is consistently greater than 110 mm Hg are indicated for contrast baths. The baths involve the use of warm water at 38-42 °C (for 2-3 minutes) and cold water at 15-25 °C (for 1 minute). Depending on the desired effect, tonic or sedative, the procedure is completed, respectively, with cold or hot water. That is, if a sedative effect is required, the treatment ends with a warm water bath. The procedure is performed twice a week, the course of treatment includes 8-10 procedures. Additionally such sedative techniques as electro-sleep therapy, 24-hour aerotherapy and therapeutic massage are used. Hypotensive methods include dry carbon dioxide and sodium chloride baths, and vegetative-correcting methods include low-frequency magnetic therapy and transcranial electroanalgesia.
The diet of patients with hypertension should contain a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood, as well as products that contain potassium, calcium and magnesium. The intake of animal fats and salt is necessarily limited, and fluid volume is reduced to 1-1.5 liters per day.
Treatment effectiveness criteria
How does the improvement in the condition of patients with hypertension after a course of treatment at the resort? First of all, blood pressure decreases by 15-20 mm Hg, in some cases it is completely normalized. Signs of improvement are also observed in the ECG results. Those patients who suffered from headache against the background of increased blood pressure, note a decrease in its intensity or its complete disappearance. Patients become more able to work and more tolerant of physical exertion. If you have any questions, please call and write to our doctor, her contacts can be easily found on the website.
