March 23-24 The fifth wellness camp for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, organized by the Tauragė Public Health Office, took place in Skaudvilė. It is exceptional in its continuity – as many as 40 “sophomores” met a year later to evaluate changes, deepen knowledge of health literacy and improve skills.
We invited the participants who meet the criteria of the prevention program to the guest house “River house”, characterized by an aesthetic, pleasant environment surrounded by nature and a balanced diet menu. The morning of the participants started with the examination of the body composition analyzer, blood pressure and pulse measurements, discussion of the results, comparison and evaluation of changes. We are proud that the variety of wellness activities carried out by the office and the motivation of the participants have influenced more than one positive change.
Health is not only a concern of the institutions responsible for it, but also of the residents themselves. The aim of the camps organized by the office is to encourage people to integrate the activities carried out by the office into their daily lives, to motivate them to live healthier. It is important to introduce the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, the principles of a healthy lifestyle, teach people how to change their lifestyle, manage stress, choose health-friendly diet and physical activity, and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Health camp. Taurage VSB photo
Taking care of our health periodically or when we feel ailments, we perform a preventive blood test, but many people do not understand the significance of the indicators and their impact on health. For that purpose, we invited family doctor Mildas Bakšienė to explain to the participants what can be learned from the results of blood tests and how they should be evaluated.
Not only a balanced diet is important for the prevention of chronic diseases, but also physical activity, which is a necessary factor for a healthy lifestyle. The participants of the camp not only exercised, but also listened with great interest to the lecture of Dr. Artūras Sujeta on chronic diseases and nutrition. According to the lecturer, the healthiest and easiest way to lose weight is to reduce the amount of food so that at the end of the week the change in weight loss is 0.5-1%, and the constant use of sugar substitutes without diabetes is not only useless, but also harmful. Those who, taking care of their body lines, replace sugar with natural sweeteners, such as stevia, should not abuse it. Even though they are calorie-free, they also stimulate the function of the pancreas, so if consumed in moderation, they harm the body.
Health camp. Taurage VSB photo
Dr. Sandrija Čapkauskienė emphasized the benefits of consuming fibrous food, its combination with other products and the importance of intestinal balance, and confirmed that the incorrect use of sugar substitutes has a very negative effect. “It is very important not to forget the words of Hippocrates – all diseases begin in the intestines,” said the lecturer.
Professor Arvydas Skurvydas assured that physical activity is a necessary factor of a healthy lifestyle and the best medicine for even 40 diseases. The lecturer emphasized that in comprehensive health prevention, 8 things must be observed: physical and cognitive activity, healthy nutrition, positive social life, strengthening the body, healthy thinking, positive emotions, and a full sleep regime. In conclusion, “Not only physical activity and a balanced diet are particularly important, but also a positive outlook on life.”
Educator-lecturer Gintarė Razulevičiūtė reminded the participants with her personal experience that there are no insurmountable things and urged them not to forget A. Einstein’s phrase “In difficulties there are always opportunities”. The lecturer who motivates, encourages belief and self-confidence wished “When you are disappointed, don’t forget to laugh at yourself, because it relaxes you and gives you the strength to continue on your way to your goal.”
Emotional health is a part of overall health, “A healthy body must also have a strong soul”, so the camp participants tried nirvana fitness – a slow workout for better health and spiritual harmony. The participants performed stretching, breathing and meditation exercises with trainer Renata Vegera.
Health camp. Taurage VSB photo
Active games integrated during the breaks, health brainstorming, dance educational program and the psycho-emotional improvement session of actress Violeta Mičiulienė “Everything will be alright” gave the participants a huge burst of positive emotions. Throughout the weekend, the faces of the participants were adorned with smiles, joyful applause and hearty laughter sounded.
Camp participants learned how to combine the main strategic directions of health: physical activity, healthy nutrition, sleep quality, stress management, how to apply them in harmony and individualize them. In addition to the principles of a healthy lifestyle, the participants also learned one of the most important lessons – how to save a life. Instructor Daiva Genienė conducted first aid training, focused on the serious consequences of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Signs of myocardial infarction, stroke and hypoglycemia, assistance to a person affected by them, resuscitation and use of an automatic defibrillator were discussed.
The large number of participants shows that the adult health camps organized by the Tauragė Public Health Office are useful and extremely necessary. The biggest appreciation and motivator for our work is the sincere feedback from the participants: words of thanks beaming with joy, a glint of happiness in their eyes, an atmosphere of positive energy for two days and the question “when is the next camp?”, uttered at least 40 times.
Prepared by Ieva Paulauskienė, public health promotion specialist of Tauragė district municipality
