Tatyana Gancheva Angelova, MD, PhD

Doctor with specialty in physical and rehabilitation medicine and with  long years practice in the city of balneotherapy for chronic kidney disease, rehabilitation of people on the locomotory system and nervous system. 

EXECUTIVE Director of the National Specialized Hospital for Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation (2008 - 2016).

Chairman of the Association of Physicians in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2012-2019). Currently Vice-President of the same structure.

Chairman of the Medical Commission of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism since 2006.

Member of the Medical Commission of the European Spa Association since 2008.

Member of the International Association of Medical Hydrology and Climatology since 2006.

USING /SIZING / OPPORTUNITIES   OF THE CLIMATIC AND SPA TREATMENT RESORTS IN BULGARIA FOR IMPROVING PUBLIC HEALTH

A COMPREHENSIVE CLIMATIC AND SPA TREATMENT STIMULATES THE SANOGENIC PROCESSES IN THE HUMAN BODY AND REDUCES THE RELAPSE OF CHRONIC DISEASES

Hectic everyday life, stress at work, urban noise pollution, polluted air in the megacities and other harmful effects of today’s civilized world are just a few of the main reasons for the compromised immune system and health of the population. The implementation of new technologies and, particularly, the long hours people spent in front of the computer, sentences them to permanent immobility which creates a chain of health issues: overweight, diabetes mellitus which frequency has significantly increased among both young and adults, the age of people with hypertonic disease and cardio- and cerebrovascular incidents is constantly falling down... Time and again, people talk about “burn-out” syndrome resulting from excessive mental exhaustion, etc. In other words, all these factors contribute to poorer public health.

How to overcome the adverse effects of the modern lifestyle?

Is there a potential that we do not currently use efficiently and productively enough to a greater healing effect on the human body?

The solution to some of these issues lies in the cleverer usage of nature’s healing resources at the climatic- and SPA resorts.<0} The boom in Spa & Wellness industry in recent years is no surprise. These branches of the economy include the use of climatic factors combined with hydro, SPA and mud therapy in prevention and prophylaxis of chronic diseases, as well as raising the overall awareness of the population of a healthier nutrition habits. In this sense, a good physical activity program tailored to the specific health needs of the tourist is a must.

Today, the goal is to bring mankind back to nature, which capacity to heal the human body has been used from ancient times to present day. The strive of escaping the daily strenuous and stressful environment with its harmful factors and living a more environmentally friendly and healthy life has become more and more relevant. This can be achieved by promoting actively the climate- and SPA resorts and their specific climatic characteristics: lots of sunny and almost no foggy days, an air rich in light negative ions and phytoncides, natural thermal water which is successfully used as a therapy - either for drinking, externally, as an inhalation or other types of SPA treatments.

There are series of scientific clinical and experimental data that prove the sanogenic effect of climatic- and SPA treatment which may last from 3 to 6 months. It has also been proven that a comprehensive climatic- and SPA treatment, regularly performed on a yearly basis, improves some types of chronic diseases of the internal organs, reduces relapse ratio and, therefore, the need for a hospitalization.

The key to overcoming the above issues is the efficient use of nature’s healing resources in health prevention and prophylaxis of chronic diseases. The goal is to create a culture of healthier lifestyle, better nutrition, alternation of physical activity and adequate rest, etc.