STROKE remains the leading cause of inpatient admissions at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), with health officials warning that the condition is increasingly striking younger individuals due to unmanaged lifestyle risks.
In an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio on August 19, 2026, SPMC Medical Officer III Dr. Rafael Nicholas Banga reported that the hospital recorded almost 2,000 admitted stroke inpatients in 2025, while outpatient neurology consultations reached around 2,000 patients during the same period.
Banga cautioned against the common belief that stroke only afflicts the elderly, noting recent SPMC census data showing patients as young as 23 and 27 years old who developed the condition from high cholesterol, smoking, or drug use.
Addressing widespread misconceptions, Banga warned against ignoring temporary symptoms, known as a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) or mini-stroke.
"Dili ta magkumpyansa kay warning sign na siya sa full-blown na stroke later on (Let us not be complacent because that is already a warning sign of a full-blown stroke later on)," Banga said.
He further advised against self-medicating — particularly with aspirin — waiting for symptoms to pass, or sleeping off a suspected stroke, clarifying that modern rehabilitation and clot-dissolving treatments can save lives if administered within the critical medical window.
"Time is brain," Banga emphasized, noting that stroke happens suddenly and requires immediate action. "Madala sayo after matagaan og tambal para sa blood clot, mauli-an. Vital ang oras to save lives (If brought in early and given medication for a blood clot, the patient can recover. Time is vital in saving lives)," the doctor said.
Dr. Meldi Anuta, an internal medicine and neurology specialist, outlined the major health factors that trigger a stroke, identifying high blood pressure — defined as a 140 mmHg systolic or 90 mmHg diastolic reading — as the leading cause, alongside diabetes, heart conditions like irregular heartbeats, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, severe stress, sleep deprivation, and substance abuse.
She noted that while family history plays a role, controlling these risks drastically lowers the chances of brain damage or ruptured blood vessels, echoing the Stroke Society of the Philippines mantra: "The best way to avoid stroke is not to have one."
"Ayaw kabalaka, kung pananglitan naay gibati, ayaw hulata nga maayo ang bation, adto dayon sa ospital, ayaw pag dugay-dugay (Don’t worry. If you experience any symptoms, don’t wait for them to get better on their own. Go to the hospital immediately—don’t delay)," Anuta advised.
To catch risk factors early, the Davao City Health Office (CHO) provides free screening and community-level monitoring across local barangays.
CHO Non-Communicable Disease Medical Coordinator Dr. Vince Joseph Orpeza shared that health centers host dedicated cardiovascular disease days every Friday, offering free consultations, laboratory services, dietary counseling, and maintenance medication refills.
Orpeza emphasized that community involvement is crucial to addressing the health condition, reminding the public that "ang (the) stroke prevention is a shared responsibility; tabangay gyud ta (let us help one another)."
Free maintenance medicines for post-stroke and diabetic patients are accessible through local Botika ng Bayan outlets, while SPMC offers outpatient neurology follow-ups and a specialized smoking cessation program for residents looking to eliminate key risk factors. GRS
