1. Uveitis
This acute, chronic or chronic-recurring inflammatory
disease involves the vascular membrane of the eye (uvea).
The corresponding changes that may occur are iritis, cyclitis
and choroiditis, but sometimes also combined irido-cyclitis
or panuveitis, leading to adherence of the iris to the lens,
immobility of the pupil, secondary glaucoma, damage of the
retina and clouding of the lens.
The protocol is similar to that of skin diseases (without
the local applications), and usually patients reach more than
4 hours of daily sun exposure.
In the principal publication on the Israel study , the authors
reported in 1988, subjective improvement in the patient's
sight, durable positive and detectable effect after 6 months,
and a significant drop in the incidence of inflammatory
episodes in the year after the 3-week stay at the Dead
Sea. The authors related these favorable effects to the systemic
immunosuppressive effect of the UVA on the Dead Sea shore,
and recommend this physiological metHod Hamidbarof immunosuppression
in the treatment of chronic uveitis.
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2. Crohn's disease
The hyperbaric oxygen environment at the Dead Sea was used
in the management of six patients with perianal Crohn's disease
on the assumption that tissue oxygenation was impaired. After
a 2-week stay including sun exposure, physical activity and
immersion in the Sea, complete healing of the perianal fistulae
occurred in one patient, and in all the others there was a
striking improvement. Moreover, the disease activity index
was uniformly reduced.
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3. Heart disease and Hypertension / Ischaemic
Heart Disease
Recent studies show that it is not only safe for patients
with heart disease to spend time at the Dead Sea but that
their stay improves their heart function. One study involving
12 patients who suffered from coronary artery disease, some
of them after arterioplasty or bypass surgery, some with congestive
heart failure and rhythm disturbances. Blood pressure and
pulse monitoring, rest and exercise ECG and ecHodoppler tests
were compared before and after exposure to the Dead Sea region,
and at sea level. The study showed that all patients improved
subjectively and objectively as measured by an exercise tolerance
test, heart performance test, oxygen saturation in blood,
etc. These results, as well as those from another study where
patients in preparation to undergo coronary bypass surgery
or postoperatively were exposed to the Dead Sea climate, had
a better postoperative course than controls, suggesting that
the time spent at the Dead Sea before or after surgical procedures
may offer protection to the cardiac muscle, possibly as a
consequence of high oxygen saturation and the anti-ischemic
effect of heat acclimatization.
Hypertension
On the basis of several studies, where hypertensive patients
were exposed to the Dead Sea climate, the conclusion was reached
that, irrespective of age, high blood pressure does not represent
a contraindication for treatment at the Dead Sea. Furthermore,
it was found that patients who are being treated at home for
mild hypertension can be freed of their medication while spending
time at the Dead Sea.
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4. Orthopedic Rehabilitation
For decades, the opportunities and facilities
present at the Dead Sea made this area considered as a natural
resort center for physical rehabilitation, most suitable for
patients after surgery, war injuries or road accidents. As
a result, the various medical organizations in Israel sent
such patients in large numbers for rehabilitation to the Dead
Sea.
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