The Healthy Philippines Alliance, a network of NCD prevention and control organizations, urged people to show their hearts additional love this month in addition to their Valentines by taking extra care to keep them in good condition.
The HPA noted that cardiovascular disease, often known as CVD, continues to be the world’s and the nation’s top cause of mortality. There are several other risk factors, including as a poor diet, inactivity, smoking, and drinking too much alcohol. People with pre-existing diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure are more at risk.
“There is no cure for heart disease. You can only treat the factors that contributed to it. That’s why some patients struggle with adjusting to a new normal lifestyle after their diagnosis. So as early as now, change your unhealthy habits and don’t wait for a heart scare before putting your heart health first,” explained Karen Villanueva, President of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations.
Villanueva continued, “Prevention is always preferable to cure, and it is our duty to assist in managing our cardiac condition in collaboration with our healthcare practitioner.”
By understanding which foods to consume more of or less of in order to prevent CVDs, the HPA further urged people to abandon years of bad eating and commit to better wholesome nutrition.
According to Maria Fatima Villena, Technical Adviser of HPA, “Diet matters when it comes to heart health. It is best to choose home-cooked meals over fast food or junk food which is high in unhealthy fat. Incorporate more fiber like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. This can help combat plaque build up which can clog the arteries.”
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows, ischemic heart disease or coronary heart disease, caused by narrowed arteries, was the top cause of death in the country in January to September 2022 claiming the lives of more than 77,000 or 18.5% of total deaths. The disease was also number one in 2021.
Meanwhile, CVD is the leading cause of death globally killing over 18 million people each year or 33% of total deaths in the world, according to the NCD Alliance.
