Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

Heart disease still leading cause of death in PH as hypertension cases rise

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Senior citizen Christina Jamandre takes maintenance medication for cholesterol and hypertension every day. High blood pressure, she says, is the only confirmed illness she currently has. Regular checkups are often delayed because, like many Filipinos, financial priorities get in the way.“Dahil sa gastusin at pangangailangan. Maraming bayarin. (JC) Hindi pa naman ako nakaramdam ng naninikip o ano. Pero siyempre gusto ko rin malaman.,” Jamandre said.Health officials warn that cases like hers are increasingly common. High cholesterol and hypertension remain among the leading drivers of heart disease in the country.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/5/ph-heart-association-flags-lack-of-heart-doctors-1616">&#x27;1 for every 44,000 patients&#x27;: PH Heart Association flags lack of heart doctors</a></div>According to the Department of Health (DOH), one in every three Filipinos had heart disease in 2024. Ischemic heart disease once again ranked as the top cause of death that year, accounting for more than 60,000 deaths or nearly two out of every 10 recorded fatalities. Cancer and stroke followed on the list.Despite the numbers, the DOH stresses that heart disease is preventable.Assistant Health Secretary Albert Domingo says controlling salt intake is one of the simplest yet most effective steps.“Sa diet pa lang, kahit tapos na tayo sa Christmas season at tayo papasok ngayon sa summer, eh, kung tutuusin, nasa asin yan. Sa dami ng asin, ng sodium na ating nilalagay sa ating pagkain. Pati ang mga sarsa tulad ng patis, toyo,” he said.(Hypertension is actually easy to prevent. It starts with diet. The issue is salt and the amount of sodium we add to our food. And it’s not just table salt. It also includes sauces like fish sauce and soy sauce.)Excess sodium causes the body to retain water, forcing the heart to work harder to circulate blood. Over time, this strain can enlarge the heart and increase the risk of complications. When paired with cholesterol buildup that blocks arteries, the danger escalates further and may lead to heart attack.The DOH says hypertension and heart disease can affect people across different age groups.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/life/07/07/21/health-expert-says-increase-in-hypertension-cases-among-adolescents-alarming">Health expert says increase in hypertension cases among adolescents &#x27;alarming&#x27;</a></div>From the second to the third quarter of 2025 alone, an additional 500,000 to 600,000 Filipinos were recorded with high blood pressure. These cases increase the risk of heart disease and other complications linked to clogged arteries.Health experts stress that heart disease does not only affect the elderly. Young adults are becoming more vulnerable due to lifestyle factors, including diet and lack of physical activity.Data from the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) also show there is only one cardiologist for every 44,000 patients nationwide. About half of the country’s cardiologists are concentrated in the National Capital Region.“Talagang napakaliit pa rin ng ating cardiologist numbers. What we are doing now is to increase the number of chapters, and encouraging cardiologists to serve underserved areas in the country,” said PHA President Dr. Walid Amil(Our number of cardiologists is still very small. What we are doing now is increasing the number of chapters and encouraging cardiologists to serve underserved areas in the country,” Amil said.The PHA estimates that around 2.5 million Filipinos across different regions had no access to a cardiologist in the past year.Health officials continue to urge the public to undergo regular screenings, reduce salt consumption, stay physically active, and seek early medical consultation which they say can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease.

Senior citizen Christina Jamandre takes maintenance medication for cholesterol and hypertension every day. High blood pressure, she says, is the only confirmed illness she currently has. Regular checkups are often delayed because, like many Filipinos, financial priorities get in the way.

Senior citizen Christina Jamandre takes maintenance medication for cholesterol and hypertension every day. High blood pressure, she says, is the only confirmed illness she currently has. Regular checkups are often delayed because, like many Filipinos, financial priorities get in the way.