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| PHA officers gather on stage at the end of the convention |
Even with hypertension – when the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated -- some people often have no symptoms. That’s why it is important to regularly check one’s blood pressure.
Blood pressure is measured by two numbers: the systolic pressure, representing the pressure when the hearts beat; and the diastolic pressure, representing the pressure when the heart rests. One is hypertensive when his or her blood pressure reading is greater than 140 over 90 mm.
Many hypertensive individuals are symptomless, others may experience severe headache, shortness of breath, nosebleed, severe anxiety, and/or feeling of pulsations in the neck or head.
The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) has consistently advised the public to contact their health care provider especially if they are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms. That’s because after a prolonged period, untreated high blood pressure can cause heart disease and related complications such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
It may also cause other complications such as fluid build-up in the lungs, vision loss, kidney damage, erectile dysfunction, and memory loss.
Hypertension is life-threatening. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, as of March 2022, hypertensive diseases were the fifth leading cause of death in the country with 2,565 deaths or 5.9% of total deaths that occurred from January to February 2022.
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| Dr. Ronald Cuyco |
Cardiology for All
Given the lack of heart care experts and the continuous rise of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) along with hypertension cases in the country, cardiovascular specialists from the PHA and Philippine College of Cardiology took their assignment to their hearts by staging the PHA-PCC Midyear Convention 2024 with the theme “Cardiology for ALL.”
Held at the SMX Convention Center in Pampanga on January 12-13, 2024, the confab gathered a total of 411 cardiologists, internists, primary care physicians, general practitioners, nurses, and medical students from across the country. The convention’s thrust is on point: to keep the 2,313 PHA members in step with global cardiovascular trends and be at par with foreign colleagues and to equip non-cardiologists with the ABCs of cardiovascular cases. This redounds to efficient care for every Filipino heart patient.
The two-day scientific meeting tackled hot topics like hypertension, chronic coronary syndrome, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, acute coronary syndrome, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, valvular heart disease, women’s heart health, cardiovascular considerations in sexual health and preventive cardiology.
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| One of the topics closest to my heart: my daughter is RHD patient |
Why PHA Central Luzon?
“Because it has distinguished itself as one of the most active and competitive PHA chapters; has a good number of hands--more than 100 members who are always willing to put their 100 percent into the PHA chapters’ research and advocacy commitments and initiatives,” PHA President Dr. Ronald Cuyco said.
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| Dr. Rodney Jimenez |
Accessibility and engineering marvels are the other plus factors. “Clark, which is a two-hour breezy drive from Manila teems with posh convention, hotel, and food and beverage facilities. Clark International Airport is right in the heart of Clark Freeport,” said PHA Vice President Dr. Rodney Jimenez, who is also the 2024 convention chair.
PHA Central Luzon Chapter President Dr. Rayzen Canono-Lim said the convention in Clark is timely because “CVD is prevalent in Pampanga and the entire Central Luzon partly because we are surrounded by restaurants and Kapampangans are foodies. BPOs are a thriving industry here, same with the food business.”
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| Post confab, the PHA Secretariat had a quick visit at Centro Medico Santissimo Rosario Hospital at Balanga, Bataan |
On a happy note, Pampanga boasts of a good number of private and government hospitals. Among the best ones are the Angeles University Foundation Medical Center (which is PHA-accredited) and The Medical City Clark.
Tapping the young technology natives on CV education
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| Dr. Erdie Fadreguilan |
On hand to guide the young technology native-attendees is Dr. Erdie C. Fadreguilan who was tasked to take participants into the world of technology with his lecture titled, 'Engaging the Digital Generation: Strategies for Effective Social Media Education.'
A noted cardiologist- electrophysiologist, who is also the president of Philippine Heart Rhythm Society, Fadreguilan started to harness digitalization at the height of the COVID-19 scare. He started his “Heartbeat Doc” channel to share CV information relevant to both physicians and laypersons.
To combat false ideas circulating online and make accurate health information engaging for people, he shared the following strategies: “Define your goals and objectives, researching and presenting information in a way that patients can understand. Choose/design the right platform and channel; the audience on YouTube is onthe older side, and may want to learn more about health in general, while on TikTok, the young people want to hear stories more than Yun medical information. Create and curate content to match the platform and audience, and interact and communicate with followers to better monitor and evaluate performances.”
Fadreguilan has 116,000 followers on TikTok and 102,000 subscribers on YouTube, garnering him a Silver Play Button Award from the latter.
For more information, visit https://www.philheart.org/
#cardiology #heartcare
#philippineheartassociation
#PHAmidyearconvention2024
#cardiologyforall
#CVDs #heartdisease
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