Health Secretary Dr. Enrique Ona said about 90 percent of Filipinos are positive for at least one heart risk factor. In a statement, Ona said the majority of Filipinos are positive for at least one of the following risk factors:
physical inactivity smoking obesity hypertension hypercholesterolemia diabetes Ona said other determiners like age and heredity are considered non-modifiable risk factors or those that cannot be avoided. However, he said that the more common risk factors — tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity — are modifiable risk factors that one can prevent. Ona said diseases of the heart and vascular system now rank as the top killer diseases of Filipinos. Data from the Philippine Health Statistics show that more than 67,000 deaths per year, or 84 deaths per 100,000 population, are attributed to heart diseases. Vascular system diseases, on the other hand, account for more than 50,000 deaths per year. Globally, the Philippines is one of the 23 countries among developing countries contributing to around 80 percent of the total deaths due to chronic diseases. Healthy living Ona stressed the importance of healthy living and proper diet in lessening one's likelihood of getting heart diseases. He encouraged parents to teach their children to be active and to engage in sports that will help them be physically fit. "While they're still young, our children should be encouraged to be more active and practice a healthy lifestyle in order for them to develop the habit," he said, adding that children will only actively engage in sports if they see their parents doing the same. Economic implications of heart diseases Data from the Philippine Heart Association shows that some common operations done on the heart can cost a patient roughly P500,000. An angiogram procedure, an X-ray test used to examine the blood flow in an artery or a vein, costs around P35,000 to P60,000. An angioplasty, a surgery done to widen a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel, costs around P350,000 to P400,000. Including medications, hospital fees, doctor's fees, rehabilitation and lost income, the cost of treating a heart disease can go up to as much as P1M. The cost may vary depending on the hospital where the surgery or procedures were conducted. The health chief said prevention is the most cost-effective intervention to reduce the increasing trend of morbidities and mortalities from diseases of the heart and vascular system. The health implications are bad but the financial burdens may give you "another heart attack," he said. Lifestyle change Ona advised Filipinos to follow the following healthy lifestyle practices to avoid heart and cardiovascular diseases: eat a health diet of fruits and vegetables; avoid meat at least once a week; reduce intake of salty and fatty foods; engage in a regular exercise regimen that increases the heart rate by 30%; avoid smoking and alcoholic beverage, and manage stress through relaxation. "It's best to take care of your heart early in life. Don't wait for a heart attack," he said. – VVP, GMA News 
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