Decipher the heart code: 5-2-1-0-0

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA), the 1,500-strong association of all heart specialists in the country, is now 62 years old. It’s undoubtedly one of the oldest medical organizations in the country.

Dr. Joel Abanilla, its incoming president, continues his predecessors’ lofty tradition of ensuring that every Filipino is aware of the killer which  is cardiovascular disease (CVD) and how it can be prevented.

Joel, who is also gifted with a fine singing voice (he’s one of my favorite tenors), is allocating more of the PHA’s resources into local research so we would know the prevalence of common cardiovascular problems, local factors that may be aggravating them, and opportunities for promoting positive health-seeking behavior among Filipinos.

“The only way we could strategize on how to effectively address the CVD problem in our country is to have accurate local data,” says Joel.

I totally agree with him. But perhaps the PHA could collaborate with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development so we could streamline such research activities and prevent duplication of efforts.

In one of my discussions with Doctors Willie and Liza Ong, who have been serving as DOH consultants pro bono for the last four years, the DOH is also planning to do more local researches for its noncommunicable disease (NCD) program.

These researches require a lot of manpower and financial resources so I’m sure the PHA can use all the help it can get.

Shifting focus

As far as I know, the PHA is one of the first organizations among professionals that shifted their focus from simply being a collegial organization to being a socially relevant organization—aiming to help address the health-related socioeconomic problems of the country.

I recall the PHA’s officers and senior members convening more than 20 years ago in Subic to set the association’s vision and mission to help provide access to adequate cardiovascular care to every Filipino, even the ones living in the remote areas of the country.

In the ’70s to the ’90s, the heart specialists all wanted to practice in Metro Manila and the big cities, leaving many areas in the country without access to  well-trained heart specialists. The goal was to make sure that everyone would be within one hour’s travel to a heart specialist’s clinic.

The PHA members were also encouraged to allocate some time to do volunteer work and offer their services for free to those with heart ailments but who could not afford their professional fees.

Health advocacies

The PHA has indeed gone a long way since its formation in 1952. It is now at the forefront of many advocacies aiming to stem the tide of cardiovascular diseases, which for the past two decades, have been the leading killer in the country.

It’s noteworthy that the PHA was one of the first among medical organizations which joined the Philippine College of Physicians in helping the DOH push for the passage of the “sin tax” bill until it was signed into  law by President Aquino  a few days before Christmas of 2012.

It’s now again among the staunch health advocates lobbying for stronger graphic or picture warnings in tobacco packs. The illustrations or pictures, to be printed prominently on the front and the back panels of the cigarette packs, will depict the complications of smoking, including CVD, cancers, teeth problems and leg gangrene.

Together with the Asia Pacific Society of Cardiology and the World Heart Federation, the PHA recently sent a letter to the President, pushing for this labeling requirement in all cigarette packs. They also stressed the need to reduce any undue influence of the tobacco industry in policymaking.

I join the 1,500 members of the PHA in wishing Joel and his board of directors all the best in their advocacies. Aside from Joel, the other members of the board are:  Doctors Alex  Junia, vice president; Raul Lapitan, secretary; Jorge Sison, treasurer; Helen Ong-Garcia, Nannette Rey and Aurelia  Leus, directors; and Dr. Eugene Reyes, immediate past president.  The two lay officers are Romeo Cruz and Ricky Alegre, VP for external affairs and VP for finance, respectively.

Doable formula

Aside from quitting smoking, the PHA is now educating the public about the 5-2-1-0-0 heart code. It’s a very simple, doable formula to keep the heart specialist away.

The “code” stands for five servings of vegetable and fruits; maximum of two hours of screen (computer, video) time; one hour of moderate physical activity preferably daily or at least four days a week; zero soda or sugar-sweetened drinks; and zero smoking.

“Do the numbers strictly,” says Eugene.  “Make it a daily routine with your family members, relatives and friends. Take on the challenge as it will add healthier years to your life,” he advises.

It may be difficult at the start, but if one perseveres in “doing the numbers,” it will become a healthy habit and will form part of one’s healthy lifestyle.

The PHA officers also encourage the parents, especially mothers, to train their children early on this healthy habit. “Following the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle is just the same as adhering to house rules and other dos and don’ts,” says Eugene.

Although parents, including mothers, are always busy at work, this should not be an excuse. If a healthy lifestyle has been part of a family’s lifestyle, there is no reason why a working mother cannot implement the “code.” “All it takes is will power, time management and commitment from every member of the family to be involved with this lifestyle change,” Eugene explains.

This heart code is no Da Vinci code that is too complicated to decipher. If we badly want to curb cardiovascular diseases in the country, this simple code could do this, and we can open the gateway to a much healthier Philippines.

As a frequently shown TV ad would ask: “Can we whip it?”