July and August are the traditional months of summer holidays. Where to go for a vacation? How to spend long-awaited vacation days with health benefits? Climatotherapy deals with these issues.
Climatotherapy is a dosed application of climatic factors for therapeutic purposes. Climatic features of natural zones are natural biostimulators of the body, which activate its resistance to adverse environmental effects. Biological action of the climate is diverse: calms and tones the nervous system, improves the regulation of vital processes (activates metabolism, respiratory function, circulation, digestion), increases resistance to infectious diseases.
Climatic zones
Climate of deserts . It is characterized by a prolonged hot and dry summer with a very high average air temperature, low humidity, intense solar radiation. This climate contributes to profuse sweating, facilitates kidney function, which is why it is shown in nephritis.
Climate of the steppes . It is also hot and dry, but differs by sharper temperature and daytime variations. High air temperature, intense sun exposure, low humidity, clean air contribute to the return of moisture to the body by evaporation of water from the surface of the skin and mucous membranes. The metabolism is normalized, "drying" of mucous membranes and skin occurs, which has a positive effect in inflammatory processes. Accordingly, such a climate is recommended for people with some dermatological pathologies, and is also indicated for kidney diseases, since the enhanced excretory function of the skin facilitates their work.
The climate of the forest-steppe creates sparing conditions. With it there are no sharp changes in temperature, moderate humidity is observed. In summer there is no choking heat, in winter - severe frost. Resorts of this zone are widely shown for various chronic diseases, including cardiovascular system (ischemic heart disease, hypertensive disease).
Mountain climate . Clean air, intense solar radiation, especially ultraviolet, low barometric pressure and relatively high oxygen content, especially in high-altitude areas. Under the influence of mountain climate, the person first becomes quicker, and then (after adaptation) the rhythm of the heart and breathing slows down, the vital capacity of the lungs increases, the basic and mineral metabolism increases, the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood increases. The climate of the mountains has a toning and hardening effect, is shown to people suffering from functional disorders of the nervous system, chronic compensated diseases of the lungs and heart.
Experts believe that a full rest is possible only with the change of habitual situation. Only in this case the organism is set up for a full-fledged restoration of forces. It is worth paying attention to the duration of the holiday and the adaptation directly at the place of rest. Short rest, of course, also benefits, but it is much better if it will be full - exceeding the period of adaptation!
Primorsky climate . It is characterized by the cleanliness and freshness of the air with a high content of ozone and sea salts in it, intense sunlight, and no sharp temperature changes. Has a toning, restorative and hardening effect. The climate on the sea coast depends on the geographical location of the terrain, the nature of the surface of the continent adjacent to the sea, the winds blowing from the land at night and day from the sea.
On the shores of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland, as well as the Pacific Ocean, climatic conditions are characterized by relatively high humidity, cool air and water temperatures. This climate is shown to the elderly, with diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system.
The climate of the southern coast of Crimea (SKA) is approaching the Mediterranean - it is warm, with low humidity, with a long sunny stand, with a long bathing season. Climatotherapy is possible on the South Coast at all seasons. Treatment in these climatic conditions is recommended for people with chronic specific (tuberculosis) and nonspecific bronchopulmonary diseases (chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, bronchial asthma), cardiovascular and nervous diseases.
The climate of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus is highly humid, therefore, for those suffering from pulmonary diseases, it is less favorable. This climate of the humid subtropical zone is indicated for diseases of the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, nervous and endocrine system.
Types of climatotherapy
Aerotherapy is the use of the curative effect of open air. Only staying in a certain climatic environment, including walks in the fresh air, excursions, have a therapeutic effect. A special type of aerotherapy is air baths. The therapeutic effect of this method of climatotherapy is based on the dosed and increasing cooling of the body. This improves thermoregulation, increases resistance to low temperatures, that is, tempers the body. The increased oxygen content in atmospheric air contributes to the improvement of oxidative processes in the tissues of the body. They are shown to all patients during the recovery or weakening process, especially in diseases of the lungs, cardiovascular and nervous system.
Heliotherapy or sun treatment is the use of Sonz energy. Solar baths are a potent preventive and curative factor and therefore require strict dosing. They should be carried out only according to the doctor's prescription and under strict medical supervision. The main factor of solar radiation is ultraviolet radiation. Under the influence of sunbaths, human performance and resistance to infectious and catarrhal diseases increase.
Thalassotherapy is a complex application of air and sun treatment and sea bathing. Therapeutic bathing has a multilateral therapeutic effect and is the most powerful climatotherapy procedure. Thalassotherapy trains the system of thermoregulation, activates the ventilation of the lungs, raises the vital tone of the organism, promotes hardening of the organism.
Balneotherapy is based on the use of mineral waters, which are formed in the bowels of the earth under the influence of various geological processes. They differ from fresh water in their composition and physical properties. Mineral waters contain various salts in ionized form, biologically active elements, and also differ in gas composition.
The newspaper "Let's be healthy!" № 5 2008