Heart, lung illnesses to rise among Pinoys – study

MANILA, Philippines — Cases of heart and respiratory illnesses, the leading causes of deaths among Filipinos, will rise in the near future as a consequence of rising temperatures worldwide and if the government fails to mitigate the impact of climate change, according to a study.

The study, done by health expert Ramon Lorenzo Luis Guinto, was commissioned by insurance giant Pru Life UK to determine the effect of climate change on the health of Filipinos in the next decade.

Guinto sits as a member of the National Panel of Technical Experts advising the Climate Change Commission.

Heat-related breakdowns from cramps, exhaustion and stroke, as well as vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria, could proliferate, especially among vulnerable individuals, he added.

Guinto said temperature rises intensify the heat volume, exposing the elderly to stroke, and alter environmental conditions, paving the way for vector-borne diseases. Emerging viruses with pandemic potential like COVID-19 also tend to thrive in such disruptions, he warned.

Respiratory ailments resulting from air pollution may aggravate public health in the future due to the continued use of fossil fuels, according to Guinto.

In 2020, heart diseases ranked as the leading cause of death in the Philippines, claiming nearly 100,000 lives, or 17.3 percent of the total number of deaths, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Hypertension, COVID-19 and respiratory infections also placed among the 10 leading causes of mortality in the country during the first year of the pandemic.

Guinto added that weather extremes, particularly tropical storms and resulting floods, will endanger the lives and properties of people living in coastal communities.

He proposed that the government start looking at climate change as a public health issue due to its medical impact on the lives of Filipinos. He added that efforts to slash carbon emissions should be improved to keep temperature rises below two degrees Celsius, as agreed upon by the international community.