The Philippine Heart Association recently held its “Mabuhay ka Pusong Pinay” event at the Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park, Makati. The event was spearheaded by PHA’s Council on Women’s Cardiovascular Health.
The PHA Council on Women’s Cardiovascular Health believes that awareness and education are the best ways to address the growing incidence of CVD among women. The team behind the project aims to empower Filipinas by making them see the value of taking care of their cardiovascular health the same way they look out for their loved ones. The council’s long-term goal is to make women realize that heart disease is preventable if they address the risk factors early on.
During the event, various doctors talked about several risk factors that may lead to heart diseases. The following were identified as the most common ones:
• High blood cholesterol, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), leads to plaque formation in the blood vessels.
• High blood pressure or hypertension can be fatal if not properly addressed.
• Smoking is one of the top causes of heart disease in the Philippines. One must know that even second-hand smoking can be damaging to one’s health as constant exposure can elevate the risk of developing heart disease.
• Physical inactivity and obesity can lead people to acquire unwanted fat in their body. Too much body fat puts anyone at risk for developing heart disease even if one has none of the other risk factors.
• Improper use of insulin in the body leads to diabetes. When sugar builds up in the blood, the blood vessels are damaged, increasing the risk of heart disease.