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World Heart Day is held every year to raise awareness and reduce global mortality from non-communicable disease of which cardiovascular disease accounts for half.

In fact, a report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) back in July revealed that 105,110 Filipinos died of heart disease in 2020, accounting for 17.1 percent of total deaths in the country. A more recent report released in August showed that 56,760 deaths in the first half of 2021 were caused by heart disease, or 18.7 percent of total deaths in the country.

While these statistics may be daunting, what's encouraging is that heart disease is something that can be reversed with changes in one's lifestyle. If you don't want to become part of the statistic, take a look at these four ways to keep your heart healthy.

1. Change your diet

This may seem like a simple thing to do until you realize that a lot of Filipino cuisine involves things that are bad for your heart, such as salt and fat. What you should have on your plate instead are fruits, vegetables, fish, grains, and other heart-friendly foods.

2. Stop smoking

Because smoking damages blood vessels, it invariably ends up being a contributing factor to heart disease. According to the Heart Foundation, smoking actually increases your risk of heart disease as much as four times.

3. Live an active lifestyle

Exercise doesn't just give you endorphins and makes you happy, it strengthens your bones and muscles and controls the risk factors that contribute to heart disease: being overweight, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.

Because of the pandemic and lockdowns, you might not be able to be as active as you want. But even walking your way up to 30 minutes to an hour of brisk walking inside your own home can be a big help.

4. See your doctor

If you're someone who's 30 years or older, getting regular checkups on the state of your heart should be part of your doctor's visits. During these visits, you'll talk about your cholesterol levels, blood pressure, your diet, and how much physical activity you're doing. Your doctor will then tell you what your risk of getting heart disease is and recommend ways to combat it.

For more stories like this, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.