MANILA — In celebration of the Philippine Heart Month this February, the Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon Center for Health Development (CLCHD) urges everyone to prioritize their health and protect their heart against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Over the years, the CLCHD has identified CVDs as the top mortality cause in Central Luzon. From 2019 to 2023, an increasing number of deaths were attributed to it, and in 2024 alone, 13,305 deaths were recorded in the region due to heart-related diseases.
CVDs are also the leading cause of death in the Philippines and in the world. Over a hundred thousand deaths because of CVDs were recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2023 — 19% percent of the total number of deaths that year.
While cardiovascular diseases cause death more than any other, many heart conditions are preventable through a healthy lifestyle. As the DOH continues with its efforts in raising awareness in such diseases, it reiterates preventive measures to avoid heart diseases.
In a “Health TIPS: Kalusugan Mo, Usap Tayo!” session aired on DOH Central Luzon’s page this February 10, the following safeguarding against cardiovascular diseases were discussed by DOH CLCHD Non-communicable Diseases Cluster Senior Health Program Officer Ms. Agnes Alipio:
Don’t smoke nor use smokeless tobacco
Be Physically active
Eat a heart-healthy diet
Keep a healthy weight
Keep your blood pressure healthy
Keep your total cholesterol under control
Keep your blood sugar healthy
The CLCHD also highlighted the importance of monitoring heart health through methods such as ECG, echocardiogram, stress test, CT scan, heart MRI, and cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography.
This year’s theme of the Philippine Heart Month is “Tamang pagkain, ehersisyo, at disiplina, para sa pusong malusog at masigla.”
