St. Luke's opens heart unit for women

MANILA, Philippines - According to the Department of Health (DOH), heart disease is the number one cause of female deaths in the Philippines, with vascular disease ranked second.

This makes women in the country today most likely to die of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) than other common illnesses such as diabetes, pneumonia, and tuberculosis.

Meanwhile, the American Heart Association (AHA) also says that coronary heart disease is the number one single killer of women aged over 25.

Unfortunately, this reality is not widely known to many women as reported by “Project EVA: Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Filipino Women on Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors in Metro Manila (Reyes, et. al.),” a study conducted under the Council on Women’s Cardiovascular Health of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA).

According to the study, most women in the Philippines think they will most likely die of cancer than of cardiovascular disease. This is not so different from AHA findings that only 13 percent of women view heart disease as a health threat.

To help raise awareness and reduce cardiovascular risk among women in the Philippines, the Heart Institute of St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City (SLMC-GC) recently opened a unit dedicated to women and heart disease.

The Women’s Heart Health Unit (WHHU) serves as a unique venue for women to seek and receive education and information about cardiovascular risks, as well as avail themselves of CV risk assessment and consults.

The WHHU is manned six days a week by 23 top female cardiologists who are professionally trained in various subspecialties in cardiology including vascular medicine, electrophysiology, cardiac intensive care, cardiovascular rehabilitation, and echocardiography, among others. It is headed by intensivist/cardiologist Dr. Maria Adelaida Iboleon-Dy who is also a member of the Council on Women’s Cardiovascular Health of the PHA.

“Women present symptoms of CVD differently from the way men do. It is important for women to recognize their cardiovascular risk profile and get treatment quickly at the first sign of distress,” says Iboleon-Dy.

“At WHHU, we will help women determine if they are at risk of a heart attack or coronary artery disease. Because of their busy lifestyles, they may tend to ignore certain symptoms which may include unusual fatigue, inability to sleep, shortness of breath, indigestion and anxiety, which may be vague manifestations of an underlying coronary problem. When it comes to health, they usually prioritize the needs of their loved ones before their own. We are here to help them understand these symptoms better and provide treatment as early as possible,” she adds.

Additionally, WHHU will also serve as the first research hub for women and cardiovascular disease in the country. Information gathered by the cardiologists will help advance the knowledge about the incidence of CVD among women.

The unit will also organize lay fora, seminars and workshops on different topics relating to women’s interests and cardiovascular concerns.

The Women’s Heart Health Unit is located at the Heart Institute, 2/F St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. It is open Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For inquiries, call (632) 789-7700 ext. 2021/2010.