In time for the 50th Philippine Heart Month this February, PHA Director Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo said in a press conference in Cebu City on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, that ischaemic heart disease remains to be the number one cause of death in the country as of 2022. The arteries of a person with ischaemic heart disease are narrowed and less blood and oxygen reach the heart muscle.
PHA Cebu chapter secretary Dr. Karen F. Caudor said that most Filipinos are not aware of the symptoms of coronary artery disease, which is angina or chest pain that is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.
“In the vernacular, [it is] huot sa dughan (the tightening of the chest). Mohuot siya kon mahago ka (It tightens if you are very tired). Mawala siya kon mopahuway ka (It disappears when you relax),” Caudor said, describing the common signs of chest pain in people.
She added that the best time to go to a hospital is when chest pains recur and if the person has risk factors such as having a family history of heart-related conditions and belonging to the age group of 50 and above.
Caudor said that she’s hoping Cebuanos will live to have a healthier heart.
Patients who experience chest pain can go to outpatient departments of hospitals near them to make sure their heart is still healthy.
While a person can be rushed to the hospital in cases of cardiac arrests, Segundo emphasized that it is better to engage in preventive practices and modify one’s lifestyle than to undergo hospitalization.
In celebration of the Philippine Heart Month, PHA held an event at SM Seaside City Cebu on Sunday, Feb. 27, where they offered free risk factor screenings, electrocardiogram tests, heart consultations and basic training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving method.
Cardiologists from Manila and Cebu volunteered their services from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.
In an interview Sunday, PHA president Dr. Jude Erric Cinco said that smoking, including vaping, is the number one risk factor that Filipinos can change to improve their cardiovascular health and lessen the risk of ischemic heart disease.
“Smoking is the number one modifiable factor that our kababayans can do. Stop smoking. Malaking bagay ‘yon (It’s a big thing). If they stop smoking, or don’t start smoking, that’s a very impactful activity for their heart health,” said Cinco.
Cinco added that ischaemic heart disease, being the top cause of death in the country, is a health concern that needs urgent attention. While there are non-modifiable risk factors (age, gender, genetics, race), Cinco highlighted the fact that many risk factors are modifiable and that we should start heart health from childhood.
He added that cardiovascular diseases can start in childhood, with the rising cases of obesity. Cinco noted that risk factors of cardiovascular disease such as sedentary lifestyle, smoking and vaping, an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are things that can be changed.
Cinco hopes that the message and information on heart health could be further talked about and have health workers initiate conversations on cardiovascular health.
“We need all the help we can get. We are appealing to our health workers that every encounter with a patient is an opportunity to talk about heart health… All healthcare workers can initiate a conversation about heart health because in reality there are fewer cardiologists and there are more allied healthcare professionals. We need force multipliers,” Cinco said.