University University Hospital Basel Children’s Diagnosis is not Hospital Zurich a death sentence A unique laboratory for the creation Alta uro of skin The laser is the guardian of men’s health Ironman World Champion Daniela Ryf: «Enjoy life every day « Swiss Natural Detox A cleanup of body and 16 + mind & CHUKKER CLUB GRANDSTAND 27-28-29 JANUARY 2017 snowpolo-stmoritz.com ticketcorner.ch on the frozen lake of St. Moritz +41(0)79 953 51 31 [email protected] Advertising #snowpolo snowpolo-stmoritz.com snowpolostmoritz EDITOR´S LETTER DEAR READERS, You are holding in your hands the new issue of Swiss of Zurich, discusses how to treat thrombosis and varicose Health Magazine. While scholars are busy arguing over veins. The most private of all male problems are touched what exactly is threatening our planet – global warming on by Professor Alexander Bakhmann, one of the leading or a new Ice Age – the slopes of the Swiss mountains are clinicists of Switzerland in virology and urology. During being coated with fluffy, powdery snow. Like an eraser it the interview, he shares his knowledge and experience wipes away our day-to-day life, all of our problems and our with us. stress, our mistakes and our personal issues. In its place, a Viola Heinzelmann, Professor of the University wonderful new feeling bursts forth. Only good things are Hospital of Basel, acquaints us with the results of new in our present, while all of the bad, along with the melting studies and modern methods of treatment for women’s water, quickly soaks into the soil and into the past... the oncological diseases. Professor Martin Moily, the Head twinkling snow beneath your feet has a therapeutic effect of the Surgery Department of the University Children’s and is the perfect antidepressant. Hospital in Zurich, speaks about his new laboratory, Still, although feeling psychologically at peace has Skin Engineering, and the foundation of a unique a beneficial effect on the body as a whole, it does not children’s center that specializes in curing all types of guarantee full protection from illness. This means that skin disorders, including those which until very recently information on the availability of treatment options in were not treatable. Switzerland will continue to be relevant alongside all of the We have also touched on the art of creating new dishes, choices travelers have for relaxation, including amazing style in high dining, and what is considered «healthy mountain scenery and mirrored lakes that never freeze food», with Andreas Caminada, a famous Swiss chef thanks to the mild climate, as well as some of the best ski and a holder of three Michelin Stars. Finally, the cover resorts in the world. personality for this issue is Daniela Ryf, a triathlon star. Here, visitors can find experts in any field, including In an exclusive interview, the reigning world champion specialists who know how to help vacationers find a new from 2015–2016 shares everything she does to relax and get lease on life whenever they have time off work. In this issue, energized. In addition, just as in the previous issues, you Irene Denzler and Antonia Scheidegger, the founders of can also find exclusive information on healthy vacation the Swiss Natural Detox Project, speak about the newest options in the best spas and wellness hotels in Switzerland. detox programs, while Dr. Brigitte Bollinger addresses the matter of how to bring damaged hair back to life, which a is important for residents of today’s metropolitan cities. MARIA-ANNA LÄMMLI, Dr. Thomas Meyer, the Head of the Interdisciplinary Publisher and Editor-in-Chief ONOV s Center for Venous Disorders at the University Hospital of Swiss Health magazine. M sa ATALIA O N t O h P swisshealth 1 Beat Villiger MD is a specialist in the field of rehabilitation and sports medicine, physical therapy, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine. Born on January 27, 1944, he is married with two children and is fond of winemaking. For many years he held management positions with leading medical institutions and professional organizations in Switzerland. In particular, from 1983 to 2000 he was Director and Chief Physician at the Thurgauer Schaffhauser Höhenklinik (TSH) in Davos, and in the 2000s he headed the Medical Center at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. He was Executive Director of Schweizer Paraplegiker–Zentrum (SPZ) in Nottwil, President of the Swiss Health AG, and President of the Swiss Society for Sports Medicine (SGSM). Dr. Villiger is a sports doctor with a worldwide reputation: for 16 years he worked with the Olympic team in Switzerland (he was the chief physician of the national team at the Olympics in Salt Lake City, Athens, Turin, and Beijing). For 24 years he headed the medical service of the Davos hockey club, and for 18 years worked as chief physician to the Swiss Ski Racing Federation. Since 1998 he has been a member of the Medical Commission of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Dr. Villiger is the author of more than fifty research papers and several hundred articles in the fields of pulmonology, sports medicine, cardiology, and immunology. THE FACE OF SWISS MEDICINE octor Villiger, we live in an age when Modern medicine is one of the most science- modern technology is present in all intensive sectors. Every year, billions of euros aspects of life. The world is changing are invested in research centers and laboratories D rapidly. Are these processes even more noticeable in medicine? around the world, and Switzerland leads this – Today a fully equipped Swiss clinic is more like a trend. We spoke with Beat Villiger, Doctor mission control centre for a spacecraft from a science- of Medicine and President of the Swiss Society fiction film. Several key developments have altered for Sports Medicine, about the advances our understanding of modern medicine in a global in medical technologies and the transformation sense. The first is the active introduction of digital technology, including data storage and transfer. The of treatment methods. second is the development of minimally invasive TEXT Maria-Anna L¨ammli treatment techniques. The third is the personalization of diagnoses. The fourth is the minimization of side 2 swisshealth EXPERT OPINION effects, and the re-classification of previously deadly cancer stages, when the metastases have already diseases as chronic diseases. spread throughout the body. In Switzerland, many – Not a single surgical operation is carried researchers are working on how to manage diseases out without a computer. The surgeon’s main and turn them from lethal into chronic diseases, instrument now is not a scalpel, but a laptop… as has happened with high blood pressure. In this – Yes. In fact, the machine controls the process case, the patient will be able to take medication and helps in any operation. This allows us not only to throughout his life to prevent the cancer from minimize blood loss, but also to reduce the invaded progressing. area to a literally microscopic size. If earlier, for any – To remain physically active and live to an old surgery in the abdominal cavity, we had to make age without serious diseases is possible through a huge incisions, now we can get to the site of the combination of many factors. Of course, advances disease through small punctures or even through in modern medicine help us. But we ourselves can blood vessels. Now such surgery can also be carried prevent diseases if we choose the right lifestyle... out on very elderly patients. A couple of decades – That is completely true! I have recently become ago we could not even dream of this. Let me give acquainted with an interesting study. The purpose you an example from orthopedics. The joint is no was to study genetic predispositions to a number longer completely replaced – we replace only the of diseases and their prevention. So, if your close damaged part. Digital technology has made surgery relatives have ever suffered an early heart attack minimally invasive. In many cases, it allows patients or stroke, you are at risk. But to avoid huge scars and recovery periods lasting for you only need good nutrition several months. and physical activity to – Physicians and scientists agree that it is reduce the risk by almost MRIs in important to diagnose a disease at an earlier stage. 50%. Vegetables, fruits, fish, It is much harder to deal with its consequences. Can nuts, olive oil, and a bit of red Switzerland a personalized diagnosis be called an important wine must be present in your are already step in this direction? diet. And we are not talking – Of course; it is an absolutely different approach about the complete rejection being done on to a patient and his problems. Previously, all analysis of «bad» foods. If two-thirds was the same, and now medicine has introduced an of your diet is balanced, tenth-generation individual approach. Each body is unique, and its the remaining part can be machines reactions to certain drugs and procedures may differ assigned to pleasure and significantly. For example, with the help of genetic gastronomic extravagance. tests today we can determine how a patient will The same goes for physical activity. Twenty to thirty respond to a drug, and can administer the correct minutes per day – that’s a minimum. The World dosage. In addition, I have to mention the level of Health Organization has been saying for a while that modern equipment. New technologies allow us to longevity and health are based on lifestyle, more so carry out laboratory tests online. For example, MRIs than on medicine. in Switzerland are already being done on tenth- – So, it looks like high-tech medical care is generation machines.