BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- Heart diseases remain a major health concern worldwide, although most of the  risk factors are modifiable, and can be prevented by following a healthy lifestyle. 

Dr. Hazelene Ramos of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center explained this in a media forum organized by the Department of Health on  February 06. She shared that, based on the World Health Organization Global Health Estimates, ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death globally in 2019.

In the Philippines, it is also the number one cause of mortality in 2021 and 2022, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority data.

Ischaemic heart disease is a disease in which the coronary arteries are narrowed from plaque build-up, while heart attack happens when there is a rupture of plaque causing complete blockage of the coronary arteries, Ramos explained.

In terms of the risk factors for having a heart attack, there are those that are non-modifiable, such as age (people over 55 have an increased risk), ethnicity, and family history.

There are also modifiable risk factors that can be prevented through a healthy lifestyle, such as diabetes, high blood cholesterol, stress, high blood pressure, overweight or obesity, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet, she said.

“There are more modifiable than the non-modifiable risk factors. Ibig sabihin nito marami pa tayong pwedeng magawa o mas marami pa tayong pwedeng gawin para maiwasan ang heart attack,” the doctor stressed.

Ramos reiterated the importance of lifestyle modification by ensuring a healthy diet, enough exercise, stress management, smoking cessation, weight loss and management, blood pressure and diabetes control, and lipid management.  

With February celebrated as Heart Month, the DOH is vigorously encouraging the public to ‘listen to their hearts,speak up for their health,’ and support the advocacy of promoting cardiovascular health. (CCD/PIA CAR)