Kardiologische Prävention durch Früherkennung und Frühbehandlung von Risikofaktoren der Arteriosklerose

Summary

Intervention through group therapy (motion therapy, dietetics, health education seminar, and — if indicated — drug therapy) over 26 days leads to a substantial reduction of the risk factors arterial hypertension, cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia. and over-weight. This was still true for hypertension, smoking, and over-weight in a population of 2.309 previous patients 2 years after their course of treatment. Semiannual mail contacts between physicians and former patients did not obtain more favourable results than a single follow-up examination after 2 years. An intensified aftercare with a higher contact rate and closer contact to the intimate treatment facility is necessary. Health education is highly recommended as an essential element of treatment programs at sanatoria. Preventive health education has to start as early as possible in the family and be continued in kindergarten, at school, by associations, churches, army, and above all by self-help groups. Sick funds should take more notice of the preventive principle and in the future the media should serve more the needs of health education.