QUEZON City, Philippines (February 12) – Every time the month of February arrives, I know that several of you might be planning ahead of the time to set a date with your partner or plans of better ways to express your love to your family, friends and loved ones. But, more than that, don’t you know that February is also the “National Heart Month”?
In the Philippines, based from Proclamation No. 1096, s. 1973, the month of February was declared as “Philippine Heart Month” by the former President Ferdinand E. Marcos on January 9, 1973. This is to require people to be devoted to the task of affecting the highest possible degree of health care among our people through intensive encouragement of research, experimentation and study of the human heart and its affliction, as well as community involvement in the task of nation building for a healthier citizenry by extensive mass continuing education. In that case, the month of February is always a reminder for all of us to raise awareness regarding our heart conditions and to take good care of our hearts through healthy lifestyle and good nutrition. Why?
Constant monitoring is important in keeping our hearts healthy. It has been said that cardiovascular disease is still the country’s top killer. According to the Department of Health, ischemic heart attack, stroke and cancer remain top causes of death among Filipinos. It is listed on a 2009 study of Department of Health, each year, 170,000 Filipinos die from cardiovascular diseases, up from 85,000 more than 20 years ago.
This substantial number of people affected by cardiovascular disease problem was the number one factor considered to declare the month of February as the Philippine Heart Month. In the proclamation, it was stated that, “The heart is the seat of life, and the growing prevalence of heart cases among our people should be attended to with urgency whereas there should be national awareness to this serious health problem through a program of emphasis and continuing research and education; and also, considering the fact that the true wealth of a nation is the health of its people and a nation can stand only as strong and healthy as its people are strong and healthy.”
According to the mb.com.ph, the Department of Health (DOH), in partnership with medical associations and professionals, initiates fun runs, health checks, fitness sessions, walkathons, scientific dialogues, cholesterol and blood sugar screening, blood pressure monitoring, consultations and free electrocardiograms. To boost heart health, they suggest ways you can adopt for a healthier lifestyle: manage stress, eat right, stay active, maintain ideal weight, avoid alcohol, and quit smoking. The DOH quit campaign shows the dangers of smoking and alcohol intake to health. It advises people to avoid salty as well as processed foods such as ham, sausage, innards, and canned products, and instead eat vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, fish, and legumes.
Our participation in these activities will be a great help for us to secure and monitor our health conditions. It is important that we are health conscious because it’s one way for us to live longer and manage a healthy lifestyle.
(written by Jasmin Monte, edited by Jay Paul Carlos, additional research by Lovely Ann Cruz)
