HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

Costa Rica Healthcare

After Costa Rica abolished the military in 1948, government revenues went to health care and education.  Today, the excellent level of education and professional training of medical practitioners result in first class and affordable medical services in Costa Rica.  Factoring in its modern medical facilities, Costa Rica is set to become a major player in the international medical tourism industry.

According to medical experts in Costa Rica, average costs for surgical interventions, dental work and cosmetic procedures can be 30 percent to 70 percent cheaper than in the United States and without the lengthy waiting periods common in many medical systems around the world.  The ease of access to medical facilities and the friendliness of the Costa Ricans many of whom communicate well in English make hopping a plan and coming to Costa Rica for your procedure an attractive option.

Most of Costa Ricas modern medical clinics are located in the Central Valley, either in the capital city of San Jose, or in nearby Heredia and Alejuela, near Juan Santamaria International Airport.  Quality is such that the World Health Organization has ranked Costa Rica as 37^th globally in terms of medical care provision. Many folks that decide to do a medical procedure here actually decide to extend their stay and invest in Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Blue Zone

For the past five years, Dan Buettner with National Geographic has been taking teams of scientists to pockets around the world where people live the longest, healthiest lives. He has named these areas Blue Zones.  Last year, Mr. Buettners team discovered the largest Blue Zones in the World in Costa Rica on the Nicoya Peninsula.  In the Nicoya Blue Zones adults have the longest life expectancy in the world. Dan Buettners team found eight factors that make this region one of the longest-lived in the world.

Water: The water in the Blue Zones has a high calcium content.  Primarily calcium strengthens bones and prevents falls from being serious.

Family: People in Blue Zones tend to live as a couple, with children and grandchildren from whom they get support.

Faith: Most of the people in Blue Zones have a strong belief in God.  They relinquished the pressures of the day to a higher power.  Their faith provides relief from stress and a connection with their community.

Fruit: People located in the Blue Zones eat many tropical fruits ultra rich in antioxidants, including papaya and citrus which they eat all year long.

Diet: Residents in Blue Zones core diet is based around maize.  The corn is soaked in an alkaline solution, a tradition dating back 3500 years, to create a compound called nixtamal.  It's a complete food high in niacin, calcium and amino acids.

Lifelong Work: People in Blue Zones seem to have enjoyed physical work all their lives.  It was their main form of exercise and they did it almost everyday.

Life Plan: Successful people in Blue Zones have a passion for living and a clear purpose.  They feel needed and want to contribute to the greater good beyond just themselves.

Happiness: Costa Rica scores top of international well being surveys. People in Blue Zones have higher levels of endorphins and stronger immune systems, they are interesting and interested in others and keep learning throughout their life.

Mr. Buettners work on Blue Zones and on the Nicoya Blue Zone in Costa Rica has been funded by National Geographic and the National Institutes on Aging, and he has appeared on the television programs of Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey, Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper 360 Live and ABC Nightly News. For more information on Blue Zones and the Nicoya Blue Zone in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Hospitals

Many specialists may work out of their own private consulting offices around the Country some even now conveniently located in the up and coming beach areas, still most clients will find that lion share of medical centers of interest are located in and around the central valley of San Jose, Costa Rica. The larger private Costa Rican hospitals now offer an assortment of comprehensive packages for foreign clients. The three largest in Costa Rica are:

•1.     Clinica Catolica / 506.2246.3000

•2.     Clinica Biblica / 506.2522.1030

•3.     CIMA / 506.2208.1000

For specific information on the specialties and departments at any of the above hospitals in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Medical Tourism Agencies

Costa Rica Medical Tourism Agencies help take the worry out of the unknown, acting as liaisons between medical and recuperation centers, specialists and potential clients. For a list of Costa Rica Medical Tourism Agencies please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Cosmetic Surgery

A main attraction for medical visitors continues to be be cosmetic surgery.  Taking a vacation to change ones look is a great way that clients can combine a wide array of elective surgeries with a fun trip to Costa Rica.  This sector of Costa Rican medical tourism has had a 20 percent increase every year for the past 5 years.  The most commonly performed procedures in Costa Rica are facelifts, eyelid surgeries, breast augmentations, abdominoplasties, rhinoplasties, hair transplants and weight loss procedures.  At most of the Costa Rican cosmetic surgery centers the staff speak an assortment of languages to assist customers from all over the world! For a list of reputable cosmetic surgery centers in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Dermatology

As Costa Rican medical technology has become more sophisticated, an increasing variety of cosmetic enhancements can be achieved through non-invasive dermatological procedures.  Costa Rican dermatologists perform non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments including microdermabrasion, botox, fillers chemical peels, IPL photorejuvenation, CO2 fractional laser, Fraxel laser and Aptos threads along with an assortment of other treatments. Costa Rican dermatological procedures have many advantages compared to traditional surgery, they are faster, cheaper, require less down time, and produce minimum discomfort and little to no bruising or swelling.  Costa Rican cosmetic surgery patients can get dermatological procedures after cosmetic surgery to improve skin tone and remove sun spots.  For a list of reputable dermatologists in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Dentistry

Dentistry in Costa Rica is drawing many visitors nowadays to the Country.  Compared with the escalating costs and lack of insurance back home, Costa Rica is becoming an attractive option for economical and high-quality dental care.  There are competent dentists located throughout the Country and because some are located in the tourist areas you could coordinate a dental procedure during your Costa Rican vacation. For the names of some good dentists in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Recovery Centers

Post operative care is a key part of any surgery in Costa Rica. Now there two luxury recovery centers located in Costa Rica.  Che Tica Ranch is in the cool hills of Heredia by the Braulio Carillo National Park.  At Che Tica they provide individual cottages, meals and sympathetic care during your recuperation in Costa Rica.  The other luxury recovery center is called the Los Cumbres Inn and provides trained staff to attend to post surgery care. Run by an American owner, Los Cumbres offers nursing, medical care and support for mental and physical healing. For further information on either of the facilities in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Holistic Treatments

Costa Rica Holistic medicine is a blanket term for any approach to the treating of illness and disease that takes into account the significance of the both the body and mind, looking at the patient as a whole as opposed to just their condition and symptoms.  In Costa Rica Holistic medicine is viewed as an alternative medical philosophy. However, an increasing numbers of the conventional medical community are now recognizing the validity of holistic approaches to treatment. Costa Rica Holistic medicine includes a large variety of well-established forms of alternative medicine such as homeopathy, naturopathy, Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine. The common feature of these and many other alternative medical philosophies is that they aim to treat the cause of the symptoms as opposed to just the symptoms themselves.

The role of the mind in contributing to medical conditions and aiding an individual's recovery from them is given importance in holistic medicine around the world and in Costa Rica. Hypnotherapy, for example, concentrates on using the mind to heal the body. Holistic medicine proposes that the mind, a powerful tool when manipulated correctly, can help affect significant physical change. Aside from traditional healthcare options Costa Rica now has a variety of professionals and clinics that offer holistic treatments.  For further information on Holistic Treatments in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.

Costa Rica Yoga & Meditation

Experts agree that one key to staying healthy is incorporating healthful practices into daily life.  Yoga, meditation and other holistic bodywork methods are constructive components in a mind and body maintenance program in Costa Rica. Imagine yourself practicing yoga or meditation in Costa Rica, amid panoramic vistas of mountains, sand and sea.  Come. Reawaken your mind, body and spirit in one of an assortment of retreats across the Country.  Here, you'll rejuvenate your spirit in ways that are uniquely your own. Discover new interests. Practice yoga. Meditate. Uncover hidden talents. Restore inner peace. Rest. Savor Costa Rica's natural beauty.  The choice is yours. Come for your next yoga holiday or getaway, explore the peace, beauty and serenity of Costa Rica.  For further information on Yoga and Meditation Retreats in Costa Rica please contact your representative at Coldwell Banker Peninsula Trading Company Costa Rica Real Estate.