DOH warns public vs 3 leading causes of holiday illnesses, injuries

The Department of Health (DOH) has warned the public against the leading causes of illness or injury during the holidays: road traffic accidents, firework-related injuries, and heart disease.

Teodoro Herbosa on Saturday said he will personally inspect public and private hospitals during the holiday season to assess how they are responding to holiday-related health issues, such as injuries from road crashes, fireworks, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

“Preparedness is important. The post-crash response includes quickly getting an ambulance, being brought to the emergency room, and receiving proper medical care,” Herbosa said, speaking Filipino, in an episode of DZMM Teleradyo.

According to DOH data, a total of 826 cases of road traffic injuries were logged from December 21, 2024, to January 6, 2025, with more than half of the victims not wearing helmets. The DOH also said drunk driving contributed to the injuries.

The agency reminded motorists to always wear helmets, refrain from driving under the influence of alcohol, and use seatbelts and other protective gear.

The DOH also said a total of 844 cases of firework-related injuries were recorded during the same period last year. Herbosa stressed that children must be prohibited from using fireworks because they can easily be injured.

Meanwhile, the DOH reminded Filipinos to avoid eating fatty, oily, and sweet dishes during holiday festivities to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The agency reported a total of 96 ACS cases during the same period last year.

In the same interview, Dr. Myla Supe, an adult cardiologist from the Philippine Heart Center, said they see a spike in heart-related illnesses during the holiday season.

“Most of the time, patients already have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. But during Christmas, there is a lot of delicious food, alcoholic beverages, salty and processed foods, and stress,” Supe said in Filipino.

She also said that even if an individual is taking maintenance medicines, they should still eat healthily during the holidays.

“All throughout the year, the condition may be controlled, but unhealthy eating during Christmas can trigger heart disease,” she added.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, ischemic heart disease, or coronary heart disease, remained the leading cause of death among Filipinos in 2024. It accounted for 96,049 cases, or 19.3 percent of deaths in the country, from January to November 2024.

Source: www.newsinfo.inquirer.net