Medical Professionals Promote Heart Month Celebration this February

Manila (PNA) — The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) will spearhead this year’s Heart Month celebration which aims to promote awareness and educate Filipinos on the importance of a healthy heart through healthier lifestyle and early prevention of heart diseases.

This year’s celebration of cardiovascular health adapts the World Health Organization (WHO) theme, “Jump for your heart,” which will take place in Iloilo City on Feb. 22, in front of the Ateneo de Iloilo University.

The details of this year’s Heart Month celebration were announced in a forum conducted by the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) and PHA Tuesday, which highlighted the latest clinical guidelines to help and manage patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), called the Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) Registry.

“Last year, we went to Cebu. This year, we’re going to Iloilo. We’re going to have the Heart Month Celebration in front of Ateneo,” said Dr. Helen Ong-Garcia, directress of the PHA Advocacy Committee.

Despite the adaptation of the international theme, PHA assured that they are going to “Filipinize” the celebration for this year, with culminating activities including Zumba dancing and jump rope competition.

“These exercises are innovative, easy-to-do, free, and can be done every day,” Dr. Ong-Garcia explained.

PHA will also conduct a risk factor screening and education. Moreover, different hospitals all over the country will also be conducting their own Heart Month celebration in accordance with the national event.

The whole PHA board and members are also expected to grace the celebration, with the support of the city government of Iloilo.

Acute Coronary Syndrome or more commonly known as heart attack is a serious condition frequently caused by lifestyle-related factors such as hypertension, smoking, and diabetes.

Cardiologists emphasize the importance of primary prevention, or if possible, start a healthier lifestyle even at a young age, to prevent heart-related diseases, especially CAD, which ranked as the highest reasons of mortality in the Department of Health (DOH) list of Top Mortality in 2010.

Likewise, the launch of the PHA’s ACS Registry aims to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on ACS patients to apply these research-based evidences in “real-world” practices in the Philippines.

The association also aims to expand the said clinical innovation through education and involvement of doctors and professionals around the country in the coming years. (PNA) SCS/JARD-OJT/SSC