February 23, 2015, National Nutrition Council Caraga joins Department of Health in celebrating the Heart Month with the theme “Alagaan ang iyong Puso, ugaliin ang healthy lifestyle” in Almont Inland, Resort, Butuan City.
Hypertension and diseases of the heart are among the ten leading causes of illnesses in the Philippines each year. Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. Like cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes, CVDs are among the top killers in the Philippines, causing more than half of all deaths annually and generally contribute to decreased human productivity and national economic growth retardation. These diseases are collectively known as Lifestyle Related Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) because they have common risk factors which are related to unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits.
Unhealthy lifestyle includes drinking alcoholic beverages, smoking and inactivity. Excessive drinking increased the risk for high blood pressure, heart diseases and can also lead to liver diseases. Aside from the health risks, alcohol contains calories and enhances your appetite and will make you eat more. Smoking increases risk of heart disease (which accounts for 35 to 40% of all smoking-related deaths), emphysema, cancer, stroke, asthma, lung infections, and dementia. Decreased physical activity due to the sedentary nature of many forms of work, changing modes of transportation, increasing urbanization; and increased intake of foods that are high in fat, salt, and sugars but are low in vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients can cause overweight and obesity. Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health.
Department of Health together with the National Nutrition Council intensified the health promotion on prevention and control of chronic lifestyle related NCDs to effect changes that would lead to significant reduction in mortality and morbidity due to lifestyle related NCDs.
The Health Month Celebration has conducted various activities which includes cholesterol and sugar level taking, weight and waist circumference measurement, bloodletting and interactive lecture discussion on smoking, orientation on Package of Essential Non-communicable disease interventions (PEN), obesity and overweight and coronary artery diseases. Ms. Rowena C. Gomez, Nutrition Officer II of NNC Caraga also introduced the 10 Kumainments and Mang Moi or Moises Dalisay, who handed down the 10 Kumainments and the campaign character that was patterned after Moises of the bible.
The program was ended with open-forum and zumba exercise led by DOH and NNC Caraga Staff.
