MANILA, Philippines – Looking to avoid a broken heart? The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, May 31, offered one solution: Quit smoking.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gave the advice on World No Tobacco Day observed globally every May 31.

“I would like to reiterate that tobacco use and breathing secondhand smoke may indeed break your heart,” Duque said in a statement.

The health chief, a physician, reiterated the DOH plea to smokers to kick the habit, and told them why they should do it now.

“You may have heard this a million times, smoking is dangerous to your health, but we still want to remind you every time we have a chance. Tobacco smoke thickens the blood, increases the risk of blood clots, narrows the arteries, and restricts oxygen in the blood,” he said.

For 2018, the DOH adopted the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) theme for World No Tobacco Day: “Tobacco Breaks Hearts,” which emphasized the link between smoking and heart disease. (READ: Heartbreaker? Smoking causing millions of heart attacks, strokes – WHO)

According to WHO, both smoking and second-hand smoke contributed to about 12% of all heart disease deaths globally.

Meanwhile, ischemic heart diseases, commonly known as the “hardening of arteries,”  continued to be the leading cause of death in the Philippines with more than 74,000 recorded cases in 2016.

The Philippine Statistics Authority also said diseases such as  cancer, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and other heart ailments are strongly linked to risk factors including tobacco use and are among the top causes of deaths and diseases among Filipinos.

Aside from quitting smoking, the DOH also said Filipinos can help others stop smoking by supporting the nationwide smoking ban and preventing tobacco use among the youth.

Duque reminded the public of the health department’s national quit hotline, which was launched last year to provide counselling and support for smokers who wish to quit. (READ: How to quit smoking – for good)

He also emphasized the necessity of smoke-free environments to discourage use among the youth. Duque urged local government units to fully implement Executive Order 26 or the nationwide smoking ban. (READ: What happens to LGUs that don’t enforce the smoking ban EO?) 

Low awareness

For health advocacy group New Vois of the Philippines (NVAP) despite the country’s efforts to reduce tobacco-related deaths and diseases, there is still low public awareness that smoking is a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

NVAP President Emer Rojas, Rojas said that  80% of smokers worldwide lived in low and middle-income countries where not all have access to quality healthcare. These countries include the Philippines.

On World No Tobacco Day, Rojas reiterated the group’s called for the passage of the universal health care law which, he said, could be funded from tax revenues from tobacco products.

Jorge Banal, president of the Federation of Senior Citizens Association of the Philippines – NCR/QC, for his part said the provision of universal health care in the country can help generate “more resources to raise awareness and address these issues to reduce the prevalence of smoking and eventually heart disease as well as provide medical care for all CVD victims.” – Rappler.com