By Ma. Teresa Montemayor

HEALTHY OPTION. A fruit stall. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has advised Filipinos to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits and make time for exercise to avoid holiday heart syndrome which may be caused by too much alcohol, stress, lack of rest and salty foods. (File photo)

MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it is monitoring acute complications of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) this holiday season.

This clarification came after releasing a statement on Monday warning Filipinos against diseases related to holiday heart syndrome such as stroke.

“Ang holiday heart syndrome ay kombinasyon ng atrial fibrillation, abnormal na pagtibok ng atrium o bahagi ng puso, kasunod ng binge drinking o sobrang pag-inom ng alak (The holiday heart syndrome is a combination of atrial fibrillation, abnormal heartbeat of atrium or part of the heart following binge drinking or excessive drinking of alcohol),” the DOH said.

“Ang binabantayan ng DOH ay ang acute complications of noncommunicable diseases. Ito ang stroke, acute coronary syndrome at bronchial asthma (The DOH monitors the acute complications of non-communicable diseases. These are stroke, acute coronary syndrome and bronchial asthma),” it added.

Earlier, the DOH defined holiday heart syndrome as a condition caused by excessive alcohol consumption, stress, lack of rest, and consumption of too much salty or fatty foods causing increased blood pressure.

It could lead to arrhythmia or abnormal heart rhythm – one of the causes of stroke.

It also reported an increase in stroke cases at the Philippine Heart Center, East Avenue Medical Center and St. Luke’s Medical Center, all in Quezon City, from December to January each year. (PNA)