HERE’S a wake-up call we can’t afford to ignore: heart disease is still the number one killer in the Philippines.
According to fresh data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), ischaemic heart disease—often triggered by poor lifestyle choices—claimed over 96,000 Filipino lives between January and November 2024.
That’s nearly 20% of all deaths during that period.
Think about that: one in five people didn’t die from accidents or old age—but from a preventable condition that starts with something as simple as what’s on your plate, how much you move, or how you handle stress.
Coming in next were neoplasms (tumors and cancers), with 55,105 deaths, and cerebrovascular diseases—like strokes—at nearly 50,000 deaths.
Pneumonia and diabetes round out the top five, each claiming over 30,000 lives.
But here’s the good news: you’re not powerless.
These numbers aren’t just stats—they’re motivation.
A brisk morning walk, choosing water over soda, making time to breathe between deadlines—small shifts that can change the course of your health.
Let 2025 be the year you stop putting off your annual check-up, the year you listen to your body, the year you prioritize you.
Your heart is counting on it.