BAGUIO CITY- Last February 15, residents of Baguio City were clothed with their thickest jackets, boots, hats and mufflers as the city recorded 7.3 degrees Celsius temperature, the lowest temperature this 2017 and the 4th lowest recorded temperature in history of the country’s Summer Capital. In Paoay, Atok, Benguet, the highest elevation in the Cordillera, the temperature dropped to negative two degrees Celsius causing “andap” or frost among highland vegetables particularly cabbage and potatoes.
OCD-CAR then warned the public to dress warmly.
According to research, low temperatures causes blood vessels to become narrow, which increases blood pressure because more pressure is needed to force blood through the narrowed vessels and arteries.
Other seasonal causes of higher blood pressure include weight gain and decreased physical activity. Due to the cold weather, residents of the city prefer to stay in bed or at home while enjoying a cup of coffee or soup of pinikpikan or bulalo.
The 2013 national nutrition survey results showed that among all regions in the country, CAR is number one in terms of hypertension. In addition, among preschoolers, school children and adolescents, CAR has the second highest prevalence of overnutrition and 3rd among adults. Does this shows then that the temperate weather of Benguet and other parts of the Cordillera which is being envied by provinces in other parts of the country is a contributory factor to hypertension and overnutrition?
Last February 16, 2017, the NNC Technical Committee approved the 43rd nutrition month theme, “Healthy diet gawing habit for life!” which reminds all of us that diet plays a vital role on the health and nutrition of every person. That the food we eat is what we are.
Fellow Cordillerans, let us then practice healthy diet. While cold temperature is a contributory factor to hypertension, the food that we eat everyday matters most. Exercise is also important. Let us promote exercise to lose extra weight. We can’t deny the fact that some of our companions in our workplace and in our homes are overweight such that among other regions of the country, Cordillera is one among those with the highest prevalence of overweight and obesity. As such, we need to promote more physical activities, have a healthy diet and keep ourselves warm to be fit in this coldest part of the country. NEP
