MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, Mar 2 (PIA) --- The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) intensified its campaign on healthy lifestyle to lessen the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the province.
IPHO-Lanao del Sur head Dr. Alinader Minalang underscored the importance of advocating and improving public awareness on cardiovascular diseases otherwise known as silent killers.
He said cardiovascular diseases are considered as a global epidemic by the World Health Organization causing about 35-million deaths every year worldwide. In the country alone, about 500,000 Filipinos are affected by cardiovascular diseases, he added.
He further cited that cardiovascular diseases can be attributed to unhealthy lifestyle like smoking, physical inactivity, hypertension, obesity and stress.
Other factors that contribute to such ailment also include excessive intake of fatty and salty foods as well as too much intake of alcohol, he further added.
As such, the IPHO culminated the Heart Month celebration on Tuesday, March 01, highlighting the importance of taking care of the heart and the vascular system by practicing the seven healthy lifestyle (HL) habits.
The seven HL habits includes no smoking; eating low fat, low salt and high fiber diet; regular exercise; maintaining normal body weight; maintaining normal blood pressure; avoiding alcohol and illegal drugs; and managing stress.
One major activity during the celebration was the conduct of Alay Lakad from the Amai Pakpak Medical Center in Brgy. Datu Saber to the Provincial Capitol in Barangay Buadi Sacayo as early as 6:30am followed by a ‘hataw’ exercise at the provincial capitol gym.
Other activities conducted includes free health services such as body mass index taking, blood pressure screening, and random blood determination as well as sports competition such as volleyball, badminton, track and field, and tug of war.
The activities were participated by health personnel from the IPHO, Provincial Health Office, City Health Office, Amai Pakpak Medical Center, HOPE Foundation Inc. and health workers from the district hospitals in the province.
The theme for this year’s Heart Month celebration is “Moving Towards a Healthy Heart, Mag Healthy Lifestyle to the Max.” (Apipa Bagumbaran/PIA 10 Marawi)
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