During the Philippine Heart Month, we are reminded to take care of our heart health to prevent developing cardiovascular diseases.
The month of February is declared as “Philippine Heart Month” by virtue of Proclamation No. 1096, s. 1973. This is to raise awareness and attend with urgency to the growing prevalence of heart cases among Filipinos.
According to the World Health Organization (2020), around 50,000 people per year succumb to cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), making CVDs the leading cause of death in the Philippines. Smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and high cholesterol level are some of the risk factors that usually cause heart attacks and strokes.
Taking good care of the heart is indeed very important to prevent being victimized by the above-mentioned notorious killer. To ensure good heart health, physical activities and heathy diet should be present in our day-to-day lives.
Inadequate physical activity has been linked with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. WHO (2002) reports that regular physical activity reduces the risk of several common Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in adults, such as cardiovascular diseases, by improving glucose metabolism, reducing body fat, and lowering blood pressure. The organization also advises that we maintain moderate intensity physical activities for at least 30 minutes on five days per week to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other several major NCDs. Some moderate intensity activities include brisk walking, dancing, swimming, lawn mowing, or level terrain bicycling.
Complementarily, healthy diet should also be observed. We should cut down on our salt intake (high salt intake may mean high blood pressure, too) as well as on our sugar intake (too much sugar may raise our high blood pressure). We should also eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. We should avoid consuming food products that contain too much saturated fats such as pastries, pies, butter, margarine, and processed meat. Lastly, we should lessen our alcohol intake and quit tobacco smoking.
Pampering our hearts should not only be about feeding them with love, but also about giving them the proper and right care that they need.
SIMON B. COPEZ & BELLA M. BASALONG
References:
What are the leading causes of mortality in the Philippines?. Department of Health. https://doh.gov.ph/node/1058
(2020, February 14). How to take care of your heart health. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/philippines/news/feature-stories/detail/how-to-take-care-of-your-heart-health
Make your heart healthy and prevent hypertension. Department of Health Cordillera Center for Health Development. https://caro.doh.gov.ph/make-your-heart-healthy-and-prevent-hypertension/
Proclamation No. 1096, s. 1973. Official Gazette. https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1973/01/09/proclamation-no-1096-s-1973/
(2009) WHO Lifestyle Manual Module 4 Physical-Activity. Philippine Academy of Family Physicians. http://thepafp.org/website/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2009-WHO-Lifestyle-Manual-module4-Physical-Activity.pdf
