ISCHAEMIC heart disease or heart attack was the leading cause of death in Central Visayas for the first nine months of 2022.
Dr. Jera Armendarez, medical officer IV of the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH 7), made the announcement during the “Kapihan sa PIA” on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.
She said poor lifestyle, hereditary factors and aging are the most common causes of cardiovascular disease.
“For almost 10 years, mao-mao ra gyud gihapon (ang data) (The data has hardly changed for almost 10 years). It’s sad to know because this is really preventable,” she said.
Heart attack accounted for 18.5 percent of deaths in the region during this period followed by cerebrovascular diseases like stroke (10.3 percent). Hypertensive disease or hypertension, the fifth leading cause of death, accounted for 5.7 percent of deaths.
Other top causes of death in 2022 were pneumonia, Covid-19, cancer, diabetes, sepsis, renal failure and tuberculosis.
Armendarez reminded the public that most of these diseases can be prevented by adopting a healthy diet, exercising regularly and quitting tobacco products.
In celebration of Philippine Heart Month in February, Armendarez encouraged the public to participate in programs organized by local government units like fun runs, dance challenges and pageants that promote better cardiovascular health. (Jenika Gi-an C. Nero, STC Intern)