[The effectiveness of wellness programs in correcting risk factors for atherosclerosis in a sanatorium]

Atherosclerosis is the main cause of mortality and disability in the adult population. One of the reasons for the high mortality from atherosclerosis is the lack of effective measures to prevent cardiovascular complications that ensure timely detection and correction of risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis, primarily lipid metabolism disorders with high values of proatherogenic lipids. In the restorative correction of dyslipidemia, the most promising is the use of health programs based on therapeutic physical factors, the combined use of natural (mineral waters, kumiss, climate) with physical training, training in health schools, with their implementation in sanatorium-resort conditions.

Development and evaluation of the effectiveness of health programs of varying intensity based on therapeutic physical factors in the correction of risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis in a sanatorium.

The study included 75 men aged 38 to 48 years with risk factors for atherosclerosis and atherogenic cardiovascular diseases. In compliance with the principles of randomization, the patients were divided into groups. The health program for the 1st group (n=25) included drinking mineral water, kumiss from mare's milk, a hypolipidemic diet with limited animal fats, terrain cure, therapeutic exercises, and climatotherapy. The health program for patients in the 2nd group (n=25) in addition to the program for the 1st group included hydrogen sulphide baths and Nordic walking, with further continuation for 3 months. For patients in the 3rd group (n=25), the health program included, in addition to the program for the 2nd group, physical training on an exercise bike, with further continuation for 3 months.

The effectiveness of the health program is most pronounced in patients of the 3rd group: after the course of health improvement in the sanatorium, an improvement in the blood lipid profile is noted with a decrease in the level of total cholesterol by 8.22% (p<0.05), triglycerides by 7.61% (p<0.05), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 9.94% (p<0.05), an increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol by 6.66% (p<0.05) from the initial values. Improvement of peroxide metabolism and antioxidant system with decrease of malonic dialdehyde, catalase and superoxide dismutase activity was revealed. Against the background of prolongation of physical training for 3 months, enhancement of hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects with increase of physical performance and adaptation potential was noted.

To correct risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis and atherogenic cardiovascular diseases, it is advisable to use health programs based on therapeutic physical factors: drinking mineral water, kumiss, therapeutic gymnastics, climatotherapy, hydrogen sulphide baths, physical training on a stationary bike, Nordic walking in a sanatorium, with continued physical training on an outpatient basis for at least 3 months.