The epidemic no one talks about
Civilisation diseases — type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome — now kill more people than infectious diseases. According to the WHO, they account for 71% of all deaths worldwide. And most of them are preventable.
The problem is not that we lack medications. We have plenty. The problem is that medications treat consequences — not causes. And the causes are: chronic stress, sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and insufficient time for recovery.
This is precisely what the spa changes. Not with a single pill, but through a comprehensive shift in living conditions.
How the spa addresses what medication cannot
1. Diabetes and prediabetes
In Marienbad, the mineral springs are used for a drinking cure that demonstrably influences glucose metabolism. Alkaline springs (particularly the Rudolf and Karolina springs) support pancreatic function and improve insulin sensitivity.
The spa programme for diabetics includes:
- A drinking cure with an individually selected spring
- Carbonated baths — improving microcirculation in the lower extremities
- Supervised exercise — terrain therapy with blood glucose monitoring
- Nutritional counselling — adjusting the diet plan for the months ahead
2. Hypertension
CO₂ therapy — carbonated baths and dry gas baths — is among the most effective non-pharmacological methods for lowering blood pressure. Carbon dioxide dissolved in water penetrates the skin, dilates blood vessels, and reduces peripheral resistance.
Clinical studies document a drop in systolic blood pressure of 10–15 mmHg after a series of 10 carbonated baths — with no side effects whatsoever.
3. Obesity and metabolic syndrome
A spa stay is not a weight-loss programme. It is a metabolic reset. The combination of:
- Exercise in nature — terrain therapy burns calories without suffering
- Peat wraps — local thermotherapy accelerates metabolism
- Drinking cure — supports digestion and detoxification
- Rest — lowering cortisol levels stops fat storage around the waist
Why one week at the spa changes more than a year at the doctor's office
At the doctor's, you spend 15 minutes. The doctor tells you to "lose weight, exercise, eat healthily." You know that already. But nobody tells you how — and, crucially, nobody gives you the space to start.
At the spa, you have:
- Time — 7 or 14 days without work and obligations
- Structure — a daily programme with treatments, exercise, and meals
- Specialists — doctors, physiotherapists, nutritional experts
- Environment — forest, clean air, mineral springs
- Motivation — you feel results within the first week
Indications for spa treatment of civilisation diseases
| Disease | Main treatments | Recommended duration |
|---|---|---|
| Type 2 diabetes | Drinking cure, carbonated baths, exercise | 14–21 days |
| Hypertension | CO₂ baths, terrain therapy, relaxation | 14 days |
| Obesity | Exercise programme, diet, peat therapy | 14–21 days |
| Metabolic syndrome | Combination of all the above | 21 days |
A real-life story
"I arrived with blood pressure of 165/95 and three tablets a day. After fourteen days at the spa, my doctor reduced the dose to two and my blood pressure was 138/82. After three months at home — with the drinking cure and walks they recommended — I'm down to one tablet." — Jaroslav, 58, Pilsen
How to get started
- Consult your doctor — ask about a spa stay as part of your treatment plan
- Check your insurance — some stays may be subsidised or covered by health insurance
- Plan your trip — Marienbad is 2 hours from Prague
- Book your accommodation — the longer the stay, the better the results
