52100

What do these numbers represent?
Last September 5, 2015, the Health Care Ministry sponsored a seminar entitled, “FOLLOW YOUR HEART.” The guest speakers were Dr. Aurelia Leus, Dr. Milagros Yamamoto and Dr. Andrew Prieto.

Cardiovascular disease is a range of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels. It affects all ages, including women and children. CVD is primarily caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the build-up of plaque of bad cholesterol in your blood vessels. It blocks blood flow to the heart causing heart attack and to the brain causing fatal stroke. Heart attack and stroke can occur without warning. CVD is due to risk factors that you can control—unhealthy diet including too fatty, too salty, or too sweet foods, lack of exercise and sedentary lifestyle, smoking (both first hand and second hand), and stress.

Obesity is linked to heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Heart disease starts during childhood because of the bad habits we acquire while we are young. Children who are overweight are more likely to be obese when they are adults. Children who are exposed to parents who smoke are three times more likely to smoke. Since heart disease has its roots in childhood, prevention should start in the young.

To reduce the risk of having heart disease, the Philippine Hear Association is promoting the 52100 lifestyle: 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 hours maximum of screen time (TV and computer), 1 hour of moderate physical activity, 0 to sugary, sweetened beverages, 0 to smoking. Eat right, watch less TV, move more, don’t smoke. Jump start your heart. Do the 52100 daily!