DOH: Healthy lifestyle reduces cardio-vascular diseases

FILE PHOTO: This picture taken on May 25, 2015 shows overweight people having exercise treatment at the Aimin (Love the People) Fat Reduction Hospital in the northern port city of Tianjin. AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR / AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 27 (PIA6) – – The Department of Health 6 (DOH) is calling on the public anew to practice healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases as the country celebrates Philippine Heart Month this February.

Data obtained from DOH 6 showed that Hypertensive Cardiovascular diseases and cerebrovascular accidents are the first and eight leading causes of mortality in Western Visayas in 2015.

Furthermore, hypertension was the third leading cause of morbidities and confinement in health facilities in the region on the same year.

Aside from cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, cancers and diabetes are also considered non-communicable diseases.

“Changing our behavior and lifestyle can help prevent non-communicable diseases,” said John Lapascua, DOH 6 Senior Health Program Officer.

For a start, Lapascua encouraged the public to start the change by practicing the seven healthy lifestyle habits that DOH is advocating under its Pilipinas Go 4 Health Program which was launched in 2013.

The seven health habits are: Go Sustansya; Go Smoke Free; Go Drug-free; Go-Slow sa Tagay; Go Lusog; Go Sigla; and Go-Stress free or Relax.

Lapascua said this year’s celebration of the Philippine Heart Month with its theme “Gulay at prutas araw-arawin, matatamis, mamantika, maaalat hinay-hinayin” is focusing its attention in one of the healthy lifestyle practices which is Go Sustansiya for proper nutrition and good eating habits.l

“One way of taking good care of our heart is through proper diet. Diet is one of the factors that greatly affect the development of heart and other cardio vascular problems,” said Lapascua.

Eating food high in sugar, fats, and salt should be minimized to prevent hypertension, NCDs, obesity and other illnesses.

The Nutrition and Health Survey in 2013 indicated that 8 out of 100 or 83 percent of children aged 10-19 years old are overweight and 3 out of 10 are overweight from 20 years old and above age group.

Lapascua reminded mothers to see to it that their families especially their children are eating the right amount of healthy food in every meal.

“Let us practice these healthy habits on a daily basis to lessen our chances of developing NCDs and also let us treat every day as the World Heart Day, let us take good care of our hearts,” said Lapascua. (JCM/laf/PIA6-Iloilo)

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