High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure affects 1/4th of the adult population in most developed countries and contributes to heart attacks, kidney failure, blindness, strokes, memory loss, impotence and arteriosclerosis.

 

The saddest part of this disease is that most of its complications and costs are fully preventable. Even though there are numerous high blood pressure medications, neither physicians nor patients are fully satisfied with their treatment options. Often patients feel worse on their medications than off them and are thus tempted to be less compliant with their medication usage. Since most doctors emphasize drug treatment, the stage is then set for a situation where a person must choose between drug side effects or the silent ravages of hypertension.  

By contrast, Herghelia Lifestyle Center physicians emphasize a lifestyle approach to high blood pressure control. Not only does our program of regular exercise, stress management, hydrotherapy and a vegetarian diet help to control blood pressure, it also helps participants feel better. This motivates them to want to follow our program. Many of our patients are able to control their blood pressure by these lifestyle changes alone; others are able to drastically reduce their medication dependence.

Our philosophy is simple:

Our scientifically proven approach begins with first things first. We will help you focus on what is causing your high blood pressure and what can be done to help for the long-term benefit, not just a short term fix. Our program combines powerful, yet practical lifestyle change with the appropriate judicious use of pharmacological and natural therapies.

Here's how we do it:

• Provide thorough ongoing medical evaluations to determine your specific needs.
• Under physician supervision, gradually decrease and may even stop many of your medications.
• Provide you with great tasting, low fat, high fiber, cholesterol-free vegetarian meals that will greatly aid in reducing your blood pressure.
• Give you practical hands-on training in how to plan, shop for and prepare healthy meals once you are home.
• Give you informative educational and interactive lectures that help you understand the complications of high blood pressure, as well as other chronic diseases, and how to avoid them.
• Involve you in a stress management program that will help you handle conflicts and other stressors rather than letting them control you.
• Provide you with massage and hydrotherapy treatments to help you relax, improve circulation, and strengthen your immune system.
• Awaken and strengthen the spiritual dimension of your life helping you to make the lifestyle changes needed to help reverse the course of this disease.
• Work with you in establishing a personal exercise program that will help keep your blood pressure under control, strengthen your heart, and help you control your weight.
• Start you in the process of reversing your arteriosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
• Give you the insights and resources to help you continue your new lifestyle when you return home.

What Lifestyle Programs are available for high blood pressure?

We have programs to meet the needs of almost every individual with high blood pressure. Our three most popular are described below. If none of these programs seem to fit your situation, please call us to discuss other options.

18-Day Lifestyle Intervention Program:

When you choose the 18-day Lifestyle Intervention Program, time is on your side, so the impact on your high blood pressure and your health is much more significant. 18-days allows you to personally witness positive changes in your health. The 18-day program also helps create permanent healthy habits, not just temporary solutions, thus helping to guarantee long-term success.

The 18-day program can help you:

improve your blood pressure decrease dependence on medications lose weight lower cholesterol and triglycerides reduce risk of stroke, TIA's, diabetes, heart disease, and many forms of cancer increase energy and stamina

11-day Lifestyle Focus Program: Our 11-day program is the next best program to our 11-day stay. It offers many of the same tests and services as our longer program. You will experience a way of living that will make sense for your health and for your life.

7-Day Healthy Lifestyle Program:

Based on the same principles as our 18-day format, the 7-day Healthy Lifestyle Program offers a balanced, proven and practical approach to good health - providing a great way to start your healthier lifestyle. It's designed for individuals wanting to learn first-hand how to better self-manage their health so they can enjoy a longer and more rewarding life. If you have already developed a serious health concern, our 18-day intervention program is highly recommended.

Our 18, 11 and 7-day Lifestyle Programs include:

• Listed below are the important standard services included in our program fees. You may actually receive additional services in certain areas and less in others - thus providing a better fit for your personal needs.
• Comprehensive Evaluation by Physician
• Ongoing Physician Evaluations
• Extensive Lab Services
• blood chemistry panel
• complete blood count
• lipid profile
• urinalysis
• Health History Review
• Vision Screening
• Pulmonary Function Test*
• Body Composition
• Nutritional Evaluation*
• Dietitian Consultation
• Treadmill Stress Test
• Resting 12 Lead EKG
• Exercise Evaluation+
• muscle strength
• skeletal flexibility
• cardiovascular fitness
• Exercise Prescription
• Personal Exercise
• Training Sessions
• Exercise Classes
• aerobics training
• muscle strengthening
• skeletal flexibility
• Coronary Risk Profile*
• Hydrotherapy and
• Massage Treatments
• Interactive Educational Lectures
• Christian Counseling and Prayer
• Cooking Classes
• Group Social Activities
• Vegetarian meals each day
• Private Room

* Not included in the 7-day Healthy Lifestyle Program.

How can I come to Herghelia Lifestyle Center ?

 Take the first step to a healthier lifestyle by mailing or faxing a completed participant application form. If you need one, call us at 858 755 3721. Or we can simply take your information over the phone or from our website www.herghelia.org. In both cases we'll indicate the place where to send your tax deductible cost to attend our program. A $500 deposit is required to hold your reservation for the program date of your choice. Full payment is required before your arrival date. We accept check, money order, MasterCard and Visa. Once we receive your application and deposit, we will mail you a confirmation letter and a list of items you should bring to the program. For program dates and fees, please refer to our separate Programs and Fees brochure or call us at 858 755 3721or visit us at www.herghelia.org.

Spouse/Companion Participation:

We've kept the cost as low as possible for your spouse/companion so they can play an active role in learning about and supporting these important lifestyle changes. They will be involved in most aspects of the program with the exception of physician services. Of course, if your spouse/companion needs to be a participant, that is highly recommended as well.

Herghelia Lifestyle Center provides physician-supervised residential lifestyle change programs in a world-class facility for:

Diabetes, Heart disease, High blood pressure, Weight management, Smoking cessation, Stress related illnesses, General lifestyle improvements

Questions? - Feel free to E-mail us at herghelia@rdslink.ro