Heart attack cases increase over the holidays, cardiologists warn

The Philippine Heart Association (PHA) on Wednesday urged Filipinos to be mindful of their food and drink intake at Christmas gatherings, saying cases of heart disease usually soar during the holidays.

In an online forum, PHA Directors Dr. Richard Henry Tiongco II and Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo said that the number of people rushed to emergency rooms due to heart attacks are increasing over the holidays as many engage in too much eating of unhealthy food and drinking of alcohol.

“Kahit mayaman o mahirap, walang pinipili ang sakit. Ang nakikita natin, kapag holidays, masarap kumain. Akala natin it’s good thing. Syempre good thing ‘yun, pero kapag sinabayan natin ng everyday nagpa-party, everyday umiinom, tapos hindi tayo sanay sa puyatan, ‘yan sunod-sunod na nakaka-agrabyado ‘yan,” Tiongco said.

(Diseases don't pick whether you are rich or poor. During the holidays, we see that it's good to eat. We think it's a good thing, yes, but when it’s accompanied by everyday parties, drinking, and staying up late, that's aggravating.)

“Nakikita po namin tumataas ang mga kaso na nasa ER…Ito po ay mga emergency lalo na ‘pag lagpas ng hating gabi ‘pag kakainom lang o ano. ‘Yung pagkain ng masarap, kung sunod sunod, lalo na kapag mataba at puro alcohol, naku ayun makikita natin ang pagdagdag ng mga stroke at heart attack,” he added.

(We are seeing an increase in the number of cases in the ER...These are emergencies, especially after midnight when people just drank. Eating fatty food and drinking alcohol may result in increased chances of stroke and heart attack.)

'The key is moderation'

When it comes to Christmas parties, PHA Council on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Chair Dr. Don Robespierre Reyes advised the public to only eat salty, sweet, and fatty food in moderation.

“Ang practical tip ko sa mga nagki-Christmas party ngayon, ang unang iiwasan ninyo ay pagkain ng maalat…The key is moderation. ‘Wag pong sobra-sobra. ‘Wag pong araw-arawin ang Christmas party,” he said.

(My practical tip for those attending Christmas parties is to primarily avoid salty food...The key is moderation. Don't overeat. Don't have a Christmas party everyday.)

Segundo also pointed out the term “holiday heart syndrome” wherein people get heart diseases due to excessive drinking.

Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), he said the standard drink size is only 12 ounces for beer, eight ounces for malt liquor, five ounces for wine, and 1.5 ounces for distilled spirits like gin, rum, vodka, and whiskey.

“One drink or less a day is considered safe for women. Sa kalalakihan po iba naman…two drinks a day is considered safe,” Segundo said.

He explained that for women, four or more drinks consumed on one occasion is already considered “binge drinking,” while eight or more drinks per week is considered “heavy drinking.”

For men, on the other hand, five or more drinks consumed on an occasion is considered “binge drinking,” while 15 or more drinks per week is “heavy drinking.”

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), ischemic heart disease was the leading cause of death in the country during the first half of 2021, accounting for 18.7% of the total deaths. — BM, GMA Integrated News