NUVIVA: medicine begins with care

NUVIVA is on the cover of the October issue of MODA magazine. Here is what the clinic’s managing director, Neli Belovska, and three of our doctors had to say about care, trust and how to live better in our own bodies.

How often do we put off a check-up because “nothing hurts”? Or because we are too busy looking after everyone else? At NUVIVA we believe good medicine doesn’t start with a diagnosis. It starts much earlier, with attention to the person, to the way they live, and to the small signals our bodies send us.

We have gathered the highlights here.

A place where you forget you’ve come to see a doctor

Behind every clinic there are doctors, equipment and protocols. Behind NUVIVA there is also an idea, and the person who turns it into an atmosphere: managing director Neli Belovska.

Before moving to its current address, the clinic worked in a smaller space where not every idea had room. When the team saw the new premises, everyone imagined the same thing: a place where a patient’s worry gives way to calm and a smile.

But comfort isn’t only about the interior. For Neli, the atmosphere is created by people: a warm smile, empathy and the feeling that you will receive attention and an individual approach.

A good doctor is also a good person

The doctors at NUVIVA are specialists with proven experience and the respect of their patients. The team sought out many of them deliberately, because of the way they practise medicine and treat people.

“Behind a good doctor there must also be a good person: fair, responsible, loyal and respectful towards the patient.” Neli Belovska

That is why at NUVIVA we try to speak not in the language of diagnoses, but in the language of people. We explain things clearly, we listen, and we leave time for questions. Without trust, there simply is no good medical care.

Trust, not turnover

There is one line that is not negotiable: financial interest never comes before the patient’s interest. At NUVIVA we do not recommend a test, procedure or treatment that isn’t genuinely needed. Trust is hard to build and can be lost with one wrong decision.

“If nothing hurts, I must be fine” and other myths

At NUVIVA prevention comes first. Caring for your health should start long before a problem appears, and it should be accessible to young and old alike.

Neli Belovska hears the same phrases again and again:

• “I don’t go to the doctor so they won’t find something.” Early detection is exactly what gives the best chances.
• “If nothing hurts, I must be fine.” Many conditions cause no symptoms for a long time.
• “I’ll ask the chatbot what’s wrong with me.” Information is not a diagnosis. An informed patient is welcome; self-diagnosis is not.

A preventive check-up and tests at least once a year are part of taking care of yourself. Exactly what they include depends on your age, sex, family history and individual risks.

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish

More and more patients, both women and men, come to us proactively. They have realised that if they aren’t well themselves, it is hard to care for their children. But there are also parents who always put themselves last. With them, we work with patience, conversation and a little friendly persistence. A family is a whole, and it is healthy when everyone in it is well.

Longevity without extremes

Trends come and go, but medicine has to stay where the evidence is. For Neli, longevity starts with simple things: prevention, timely diagnosis, exercise, good sleep and nutrition. The goal is not to add years to life, but life to years.

And one more thing: taking care of yourself isn’t a pursuit of perfection. It is a balance between body, mind and soul, with discipline, but also room for the pleasures that make us feel alive. For her, these are a morning coffee in silence, a few deep breaths between meetings and a good book in the evening.

The body up close: three doctors, three perspectives

Today we track our sleep, steps and calories, but the simplest question remains unanswered: how do we take good care of ourselves? Three of NUVIVA’s specialists answer from their own perspective.

Dr Ralitsa Ivanova, endocrinologist: hormones aren’t always to blame

Hormones are among the most discussed topics on social media. The most common myth Dr Ivanova hears is that every weight gain is a hormonal problem. The causes are often different: sleep, diet, exercise, stress or medication. That is why she always looks at the whole picture.

When should you see an endocrinologist? Tiredness, insomnia, hair loss or changes in weight are sometimes simply a reflection of stress and lack of sleep. But if they persist, get worse or interfere with your daily life, it is time for a check-up.

Menopause deserves more attention. Every woman experiences it differently, and care starts before the first symptoms. Dr Ivanova advises maintaining muscle mass with regular exercise and strength training, which support metabolism and bone health.

Care, not obsession. If strict rules bring constant tension and guilt with every slip, it’s time to rethink them. Habits we can keep up in the long term are more valuable.

Dr Gabriela Panayotova, gastroenterologist: don’t get in the body’s way

The connection between the brain and the gastrointestinal tract works both ways. Stress and anxiety can show up very physically in digestion, and a gut problem affects mood. Dr Panayotova calls this the butterfly effect at its peak.

Bloating isn’t “normal” by default. Any change in a familiar complaint is a signal to pay attention. It isn’t necessarily serious, but it shouldn’t be ignored. And again, it is best to detect a disease before it shows itself.

Gluten, lactose, detox. Without a proven condition, gluten and lactose aren’t dietary taboos. We have a liver and kidneys that do an excellent job of cleansing. Rather than “detoxing” the body, sometimes it is better simply not to get in its way.

The microbiome: science versus marketing. This is one of the most exciting areas of medicine, but much is still unclear. Just because a probiotic is associated with a “good microbiome” doesn’t mean it will help everyone.

Read the label on the back. “Sugar-free”, “gluten-free” or “healthy” doesn’t make a product healthy. Many “healthy” bars are full of sweeteners and calories. Pay attention to what is in your food, not just what is missing.

Dr Panayotova’s three simple habits for a healthy stomach and gut:

1. A fairly regular eating routine. The body loves predictability.
2. No chaos. Don’t let yourself get so hungry that you make up for it with huge portions.
3. Movement. Digestion is part of the whole body.

Dr Atanas Andreev, orthopaedist: the body is made for movement

The cost of hours in front of the computer and phone is high. Dr Andreev sees more and more patients with back pain and so-called “weekend warriors”. The first pay the price over years, and the second often give up sport because of an injury.

Too much ambition has a price too. Combining several sports without time to recover sharply increases the risk of injury. If you are looking for a sport for almost any age, Dr Andreev recommends swimming, which is gentle on the joints and extremely beneficial.

Muscles protect the joints. Good posture helps, but without basic exercise and movement, muscles lose tone. And they are the main stabilisers of the joints and an important factor against chronic pain.

Better unnecessary than too late. Pain is a signal, not something to ignore or self-treat. It is better for a doctor to judge a problem minor than for it to be discovered too late.

To age well, you don’t need to live like a professional athlete. Small choices every day are enough:

• a walk after dinner;
• a workout at home, in the gym, in the pool or outdoors;
• at least 7 hours of sleep;
• more water and healthy eating.

Or, as Dr Andreev himself puts it: look after yourself now, not when your doctor tells you off.

Medicine begins with care

The three doctors have different specialties, but they reach the same conclusion: no extremes, more attention to the body’s signals, and habits we can keep. Balance isn’t perfection; what matters is the direction.

If in ten years more people come to the doctor without fear and don’t wait until something hurts to think about their health, that will be NUVIVA’s greatest victory. Because for us, medicine isn’t just treatment. It is care.

Ready for a preventive check-up? Book an appointment with our specialists and let us take care of you.
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Read the full feature in MODA magazine, issue 259, October 2026.

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