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| PHA UPP in observance of the Filipino Elderly Man |
“The heart is not just for ourselves. It beats for those we love — especially our elders who once took care of us. Don’t give up on them. Care for them, listen to them, and let them feel they still belong.” – Dr. Iris Garcia
Did
you know that the heart may be younger or older than one’s actual years?
Dr.
Augusto Niccolo Salalima, member of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA)
Council on Preventive Cardiology, introduced the concept of heart age—the
biological age of the heart, during the recent PHA Usapang Puso sa Puso (UPP) podcast
in observance of October as Filipino Elderly Month.
“You
could be 25 years old chronologically, but if you have hypertension, diabetes,
or you smoke, your heart may already be 50,” he explained.
“On
the other hand, you could be 70 but with a heart that functions like a 40-year-old
if you exercise, eat right, and manage your risk factors.”
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Salalima,
who is affiliated with the Tagaytay Medical Center in Lipa City,
stressed
that regular check-ups are crucial, especially for older adults. He detailed
common laboratory and diagnostic tests—such as complete lipid profile, blood
count, ECG, chest X-ray, and 2D echo—as vital tools to monitor heart health.
Hosted
by Dr. Iris Garcia, PHA Director III and Advocacy Chair, “UPP: Young Once,
Young at Heart” episodes on October 29 and 30 gathered heart, nutrition and
geriatric specialists to discuss holistic heart care for the elderly and for
anyone seeking to age gracefully.
The
guests also included Dr. Nahida Mustofa, internist and medical nutrition
specialist at The Medical City South Luzon and Dr. Agnes Cubillas, geriatrician
and head of the Geriatric Care Specialty Center at East Avenue Medical Center.
Personalized
care
For
her part, Cubillas stressed that medical care for the elderly must be
personalized.
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| Dr. Agnes Cubillas, geriatrician from East Avenue Medial Center |
“As
we age, medications, dosages, and treatment goals should all be reviewed and
adjusted. What works for a 40-year-old won’t always work for an 80-year-old,”
she said.
Cubillas
also explained that many of the so-called “signs of aging” are not inevitable
but manageable. “Age-related changes appear more at 70 and above, but not all
are irreversible,” she said. “What’s important is to detect problems early and
avoid dismissing symptoms as normal.”
She
also warned against ageism — the belief that decline is a natural part of
growing old. “Pag sinabing ‘mahina na kasi matanda na,’ that’s already a form
of neglect,” Cubillas noted. “It’s not normal to keep falling, to always feel
tired, or to lose appetite. These are warning signs and our elderlies should
see their doctors at once.”
Dr. Nahida Mustofa, internist and medical nutrition specialist at the Medical City South Luzon
A
balanced diet is good for the heart occasional indulgences won’t hurt
Mustofa
highlighted that nutrition plays a vital role in holistic care, especially for
the elderly.
“Sometimes
older people lose their appetite because of medications or mood changes,” she
explained. “Even food presentation or the effort of preparing meals can affect
how much they eat.”
She
recommended oral nutritional supplements when necessary and encouraged families
to ensure that meals are both nutritious and appealing.
“Healthy
eating doesn’t have to be expensive,” she added. “Even simple, local food like
vegetables, fruits, and malunggay which you can grow in your backyard, even in
pots can help.”
Mustofa
further noted that good nutrition should begin early and continue throughout
life.
Eating
wisely and healthy lifestyle begins at home and is habit forming. Even if you
fall off track once in awhile, you will always return to healthy eating
habits.
“We
should raise our children to love healthy food,” Mustofa said. “Reward them
with fruits and home-cooked meals, not always fast food.”
She
also reminded viewers to stay hydrated—“Drink water, not cola”—and to practice
moderation in rice and meat intake.
Elderly
care starts at home
“Family
members must watch for changes — is Lolo eating less? Is Lola sleeping more
than usual? These little things matter,” said Cubillas. “Families are the first
line of defense.”
“Don’t
leave your elderlies on their own. We often see families giving up too
early,” added Garcia. “When our parents or grandparents become weak, forgetful,
or slow, some think, matanda na kasi. Aging means we have to care more,
not less.”
Beyond
diet and medicine, Cubillas emphasized the importance of social and emotional
well-being among older adults.
“Let
them participate in activities, make them feel needed,” she advised. “When they
feel valued, they stay strong—physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
She
also encouraged the elderly to stay engaged with the community through church
groups, senior citizen clubs, or gardening activities, noting that isolation
often worsens physical decline.
To
prevent frailty, Cubillas and Salalima both underscored the importance of
movement.
“Exercise
keeps the heart strong and the body stable,” said Salalima. “Even light
activities like walking, stretching, or gardening improve circulation and
muscle strength.”
Garcia added, “It doesn’t have to be formal workouts. What matters is consistency. Moving daily prevents muscle loss and keeps the elderly more independent.”
Recognizing red flags
Reading the red flags can save lives.
“Shortness
of breath, chest discomfort, and unexplained fatigue are not part of normal
aging,” he said. “These could indicate heart failure or heart attack — both
treatable if diagnosed early,” Salalima said.
He
added that heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Filipinos,
but many cases can be prevented through lifestyle changes and timely medical
attention.
“The
problem starts young,” Salalima said. “Atherosclerosis, or fat buildup in the
arteries, starts as early as childhood. By 60, we’re seeing the effects of
years of poor habits.”
PHA PUSO MUNA includes Pagkain na Malusog showcased in Pinggang Pinoy
He
emphasized the importance of the PHA PUSO MUNA healthy lifestyle advocacy,
which promotes 11 daily heart habits (Pagkain na malusog; Huwag manigarilyo;
Aktibong pamumuhay; Presyon ay kontrolin; Uminom ng maintenance; Sugar ay
kontrolin; Obesity ay iwasan; Matulog nang kumpleto; Umiwas sa stress; No to
alcohol; Ayawan ang cholesterol).
The
health experts also discussed emerging diagnostic tools like Apolipoprotein B
(ApoB) and Lipoprotein(a) tests, which help detect genetic risks for heart
disease.
“Even
if your cholesterol is normal, you could still have cardiovascular risk,” he
said. “That’s why we recommend ApoB testing at least once in a lifetime—it’s a
preventive step for those who can afford it.”
According
to the four doctors, ApoB testing is quite a steep price to shed but in the
long run, it would be cheaper. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of
cure as an old age goes.
Philhealth
packages for the elderly
Knowing
that Philhealth subsidy for the elderly is limited, doctors from various
specialties have been pushing hard for wider coverage.
Cubillas said, the Philippine College of Geriatric Medicine (PCGM) has been relentlessly pushing for wider coverage.
According to Naheeda, the Philippine College of Medical Nutrition Physicians and the Philippine Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (PhilSpin), a combination of dietitians, doctors, nurses, are also currently exploring how PhilHealth coverage of malnutrition can be maximized.
So, you can get confined and get covered for malnutrition, actually. For example, you need any nutritional treatment, whether it's for parenteral nutrition or even for the pediatric age group, there's an ongoing program under PhilHealth for it.
Dr. Iris Garcia: "To the elderlies and their families, visit the PhilHealth Yakap center nearest you to avail of the services and medicines for our loved ones."
Garcia
said that presently the PhilHealth coverage for seniors is more of the
general laboratories, not just adult cardio cases. Ang PhilHealth, meron siyang
per year, yung P1,700 for laboratories, everything na yan, if you will be
affiliated in a particular hospital. And in some hospitals, meron yung tawag na
YAKAP package. The YAKAP package would include medical equipment. It is worth
20,000 for the whole year for each patient, depende sa hospital kung saan kayo
magpa-affiliate.
Garcia
shared: “I just came a PhilHealth meeting, and they wanted all the hospitals to
know that there is what we call Outpatient Emergency Care Package or (OECP),
wherein you go to the emergency room and you're confined there for a few hours,
without hospital admission, it’s also covered by PhilHealth.”
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