The lead
agency of the World Heart Day (WHD) celebration in the country, the Philippine
Heart Association (PHA) underscored the importance of physical activities to
abate the surge of cardio vascular diseases (CVDs) in the country through the
September 28, 2023, Usapang Puso sa Puso online forum titled “Use Heart to Know
Heart.”
The PHA
emphasized the maximum benefits and importance of walking: “One of the best
simple exercises to live healthier ang walking. Madali lang gawin araw-araw at
wala namang kailangan na equipment or facilities,” said Dr. Walid Amil, PHA
secretary, and WHD 2023 chair/UPP moderator.
An entry to PHA's poster-making contest on WHD 2023
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.”
Dr. Michelle
Pipo, a cardiac rehabilitation specialist, explained that exercise is
structured, repetitive, and purposeful, the goal of which is to make the
individual involved 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.”
Another powerful poster entry for WHD 2023
For people
who 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.
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.
“We are
encouraging people to move. Even just 30 minutes is good, but you want to
target even more than that. As for the 10,000steps, 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 then 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.
“An
increased heart rate during walking and exercise improves blood flow lowers bad
cholesterol levels and cuts CV risks,” Dr. Amil concluded.
CVD is still
the leading cause of mortality globally. Around 620 million people are living
with heart and circulatory diseases or CVDs across the world with 20.5 million recorded
deaths in 2021, according to the World Heart Federation.
Meanwhile, 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.
WHD
celebrations are held annually to promote awareness on healthy living.
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