As the global campaign to ease the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) soldiers on, this year’s World Heart Day theme “Use Heart to Know Heart” zeroes in on addressing insufficient heart health knowledge and prevalent dead malice attitude for one’s well-being. Bad genes, unhealthy lifestyle and deliberate disrespect for your heart are culprits in the surging number of CVDs.

Around 620 million people are living with heart and circulatory diseases or CVDs, across the world, accounting for 20.5 million deaths in 2021, according to the World Heart Federation (WHF).

World Health Organization statistics revealed that more than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, while one-third of these deaths happen prematurely to people under 70 years old.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that in 2022, the leading causes of death in the country were ischemic heart diseases. The other top two causes of mortality were neoplasms and cerebrovascular diseases.

With CVD as the leading cause of mortality globally, the WHF remains relentless in its campaign to heighten awareness and promote healthy lifestyle choices geared towards preventive action, materializing into the annual World Heart Day (WHD) festivities.

As the lead agency of the WHD celebration in the country, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) went a step further with “Use Heart to Know Heart” during the September 28, 2023 Usapang Puso sa Puso online forum. The PHA emphasized the maximum benefits and importance of walking, thus the PHA WHD 2023 is sub-themed “Walk for a Healthy Heart.”

Dr. Walid Amil, PHA secretary and WHD 2023 chair/UPP moderator underscored that “walking is the best, most sustainable form of exercise as it is accessible to typically anyone, and it costs nothing to do yet reaps bountiful rewards for health.

“One of the best simple exercises to live healthier ang walking. Madali lang gawin araw-araw at wala namang kailangan na equipment or facilities” he said.

Walking is part of one of the 5 tenets of the PHA Healthy Lifestyle code called 52100 (fifty-two one hundred): 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, not more than 2 grams of sodium, at least 1 hour of physical activity, 0 smoking, and 0 sugary beverages, are all doable practices that anyone can fulfill daily.

PHA Director II and UPP co-host Dr. Luigi Segundo said that the theme enjoins all to put your whole heart and soul into minding cardiovascular health, paying attention to the pains and changes that occur.

“Sabi nga ni ate Vi [Vilma Santos] sa isang PHA Advocacy infomercial, pakinggan niyo naman ang puso niyo.” Segundo quoted.

The PHA National and Chapters involved the public, harping on the fact that there is no better way than conducting a contest that challenges one’s creative juices, in churning out powerful campaign materials as entries, to overemphasize the advantages of prevention.

The categories of the two Chapter-wide contests involved not just the heart doctors but influential leaders/people in the community- the Local Government Units (LGUs). The Poster-making contest stimulated ingenious minds, while the heart-shaped track contest nudged people to keep moving, as they needed to walk, run, or bike a path in the shape of a heart, tracked via a fitness app.

𝗣𝗛𝗔 𝗖𝗟, 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗛𝗗 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀
𝗣𝗛𝗔 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝟯𝗿𝗱
PHA Central Luzon bagged and Southern Tagalog region bagged the WHD Challenge 2023’s Heart-shaped Route and Poster-Making categories, respectively. PHA Zamboanga Peninsula was named third place in the Heart-Shaped category.

Talking about the making of their entries, Dr. Ray Cabigan Southern Tagalog Chapter VP said “it was a very fun and productive day; we were able to gather close to 100 lay participants even though less than 20 were from the PHA.” He also recounted “a doctor-participant was injured but continued with the event on crutches.”

For the Heart-Shaped Route top-notchers from Central Luzon Chapter, their President Dr. Rayzen Canono-Lim, explained that they were inspired with their approach by a previous activity they had held entitled “Takbo, Padyak, Indak” and because biking is a very popular form of exercise and mode of transport.

Zamboanga Peninsula Chapter, third runner-up in the Heart-Shaped Route and represented by President Dr. Lowe Chiong, talked about how they turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones amidst packed schedules for the doctors “Everyone was so busy so we devised a strategy by breaking the shoot/recordings into three running sessions and partnering with the LGU”.

PHA President Dr. Ronald Cuyco’s short but sweet message: “regardless of one’s age, walking is still the best exercise” . Encapsulating the PHA’s WHD sentiment, he quipped “isa lang ang aming mensahe dito: Use Heart, Know Heart; galaw-galaw para sa puso.”

Enhanced awareness is but the first step in the process of the PHA’s advocacy for reduced burden from CVD in the country, but more than this, the association acknowledges that knowledge is of no value unless put into action.

Dr. Michelle Pipo, a cardiac rehabilitation specialist, delved into the intricacies of how walking and exercise keep CVD at bay and improve overall health.

She also explained crucial differences between everyday activities and exercise: the latter is structured, repetitive, and purposeful, meaning the goal is to become fit.

“Any activity is beneficial. We need to do these at least 30 minutes every day. And it should be combined with resistance exercises, like barbells or dumbbells. We can also use our own body; planking is an example of isometric resistance exercise.”

For people that do not have the time for regular exercise, “installments” that total up to 30 minutes are better than not having any form of physical activity.

“As long as it’s within the day. What we’re advocating is that you find an exercise that fits you best based on your physical condition and circumstance” Pipo clarified.

Staples in the PHA Advocacy Program, Fitness Ambassadors Coaches Jim and Toni Saret provided 1-minute exercises for the young ones and young once, to follow along to and repeat anywhere, throughout the day.

“Always listen to your body, go at your own pace, and always consult with your physician before embarking on a fitness journey,” Coach Toni reminded.

Coach Jim assured viewers that “with something as simple as tape or chalk, or a pen, you can have a simple yet really good exercise”; the one-minute routines empower anyone to put in a workout daily.

Studies have indicated that walking as a physical activity is not only an accessible means for most sedentary individuals, but is also one that typically poses little risk for injury, making it a more sustainable practice as well.

Daily walking is much more beneficial than not doing any walking at all, with possible short-term gains including improved fitness, body composition, and lipid profiles, while long-term boons count in reduced coronary heart disease risk and mortality, according to PHA doctors.

“We are encouraging people to move. Even just 30 mins is good, but you want to target even more than that. As for the 10,000 steps, it is the hope to reach that many. Clinical studies show that as low as 6,000 may reduce CV risks, but of course if you can go higher than you will have additional reductions. Don’t limit yourself. The greater the exercise, the greater the risk reduction” PHA Director III and Advocacy Chair Dr. Louella Santos explained.

This year’s PHA WHD sub-theme serves as a follow-up or booster shot to Sneakers Friday, a PHA program that encourages everyone to step into more comfortable shoes, especially at the workplace, to motivate capping off the week with more movement; take the stairs, walk around your neighborhood, park, livelihood area, with ease and style, and target 10,000 steps a day.

“An increased heart rate during walking and exercise improves blood flow and lowers bad cholesterol levels and cuts CV risks,” according to Amil.

Latest data from the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) 2021 revealed that 70.2% of Filipino adolescents aged 10 to 19 are insufficiently physically active, 40.5% among 20 to 59-year-olds, and 47.8% among the elderly aged 60 and above.

By dedicating at least one day to stop and think about the heart, the WHF and fellow CV-centric organizations all over the world aim to catalyze a stronger global advocacy movement towards curtailing CVD.

World Heart Day was first celebrated on September 24, 2000. Locally, the first WHD celebration took place in 2002, with Marikina as partner city. Since then, the PHA has been the lead agency of WHD in the Philippines and one with the WHF in championing cardiovascular health.

PHA opted to celebrate on the cusp of WHD, which is September 29, 2023.