ILOILO City – February is National Heart Month. It is observed annually as a reminder for Filipinos to take good care of their hearts by practicing a healthy lifestyle.
This year’s celebration theme is “Mahalin ang Pusong Nagmamahal: Mag-Healthy Lifestyle Na!”
Hypertensive cardiovascular diseases was the No. 1 cause of mortality in Western Visayas, with 10,485 deaths in 2017, data from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 showed.
On the other hand, hypertension or high blood pressure was the No. 3 leading cause of morbidity in the region in 2017 next to upper respiratory tract infection and pneumonia.
To combat heart diseases, DOH is advocating healthy lifestyle practices. Its program “Pilipinas Go4Health” lists the following practices: “go smoke-free”, “go relax”, “go sustansya”, “go sigla”, “go drug-free”, “go slow sa tagay” and “go lusog.”
“Before loving others, love yourself first. No one can love you better than yourself,” said John Richard Lapascua, senior health program officer of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
According to Lapascua, the DOH regional office gives out free medicines for hypertension as well as for diabetes, and local government units are being asked to list down clients.
As of Feb. 8, 2019 the total number of registered hypertensive clients in Western Visayas (since 2017) was 140,820 while diabetic clients reached 28,3017.
The province of Iloilo had the most number of hypertensive clients with 47,689 followed by Negros Occidental (31,925), Capiz (26,502), Aklan (12,149), Antique (10,834), Bacolod City (6,351), Iloilo City (3,925), and Guimaras (1,445).
“Amo ‘ni ang mga targets naton. Part sini gina-supply-yan man naton sang medicines para ma-maintain ang normal blood sugar and normal blood pressure level sang aton mga pumoluyo nga nagakadto sa mga health centers for consultations,” said Lapascua.
While both hypertension and diabetes, regardless of gender, are mostly genetic diseases, Lapascua said one can also develop these conditions through unhealthy lifestyle practices.
“For example, palakaon ka sang greasy and oily food. There will come a time nga magataas imo blood cholesterol level kag kon indi ini matapna maging hyperlipidemia ka gid…and later on this may lead to hypertension nga irreversible na. Meaning no turning back, lifetime na ina nga hypertensive ka or diabetic,” said Lapascua.
This Valentine’s Day, Lapascua advised the public to eat moderately during meal dates.
“Regardless kon ano ang ginakaon naton basta in moderation. Kon ikaw mismo bal-an mo man nga diabetic ka, pwede ka man gihapon kakaon dessert but in moderation and dapat kon diagnosed ka na with diseases, i-maintain ta gid ang aton maintenance medication,” he added./PN
