Don’t Eat Your Heart Out: Understanding the ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome’

 Don’t Eat Your Heart Out: Understanding the ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome’

This year, we have been faced with an unprecedented pandemic which has taught us never to take our health for granted. But as we near its end and gear up for the holidays, there are still plenty of things to watch out for when it comes to our health. 

“That is because while the holidays are a time for merriment and indulgence, it has also been linked to a high incidence of heart attacks, stroke, and rising blood pressure, leading to the phenomenon called ‘Holiday Heart Syndrome,” said Dr. Amal Makhloufi Benchouk, The Country Lead of Sanofi Philippines. 

But what is it about the most joyous time of the year that causes this unfortunate spike in cardiovascular-related health concerns and how do we avoid it?

Overindulging

“During the holiday season, many of us tend to overindulge or consume food excessively. Unfortunately, a significant amount of these may be high in sodium content,” Amal forewarns. 

Why is this a problem? For some people, eating too much salty food may cause their blood pressure to rise. However, this shouldn’t deter you from indulging during the holidays, but just learning to be mindful of what you eat and avoiding excess salt can help minimize the risk for heart problems.

Frequent binge-drinking

With holiday get-togethers come frequent social drinking. Just like the overindulgence of food, the festive season is often marked by the consumption of copious amounts of alcohol. 

“The danger of binge-drinking as frequently as we do during the holidays is that it can lead to atrial fibrillation which is characterized by an abnormal heart rhythm that may increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure,” she warns.

Festive fatigue

The holidays bring with it added excitement and fatigue. For some, this can mean going from one party to another, night after night, until the wee hours of the day, leading to very little sleep which adds extra stress on their hearts. Combined with binge-drinking and overindulging, and one can be very susceptible to an unhealthy mix of triggering factors. “That is why moderation is key, especially when it comes to indulging in salty foods, alcoholic beverages, or knowing when to call it a night,” the Sanofi country lead explains.

Know the risks

Going into the holidays, it is definitely crucial to be aware of any potential risk factors or pre-existing conditions that can affect your health. If you are currently overweight and/or a heavy smoker or have a history with conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease then you or your family may be at a higher risk of experiencing heart problems, so it is best to be mindful of your health and keep watch of your holiday activities.

When should you get help

In the event that you start feeling symptoms such as chest pains, you should already start calling for help. Don’t forgo treatment just because you don’t want to spoil the holiday mood. It’s always better to be on the safe side when it comes to your health.

“The greatest gift that you can give to your family is the gift of health so we must encourage everyone to live a healthy and active lifestyle,” Amal intimated. “This is why we continue to educate Filipino families to have a better understanding of the disease, beyond the medicine, to empower every single person for self-monitoring and the improvement of their lifestyle. This is our commitment to building a healthier Philippines."

PRESS RELEASE: PGH calls for blood donations from COVID-19 survivors

Since April 15, the number of people who have recovered from the coronavirus disease has surpassed the nationwide death toll. Today, there are a total of 693 recoveries and 446 deaths. Of those 446, 9 died just yesterday. So while the situation is improving, there is still much to do.

“Filipinos continue to suffer and some eventually die from Covid 19 everyday. There is no proven treatment yet for this although different medications and regimens are being investigated. And the vaccine against the novel coronavirus is not yet available. That is why we are calling for plasma donations from Covid 19 survivors. Their antibodies  may help save patients who are still battling the disease, especially the severe and critical cases,” said Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, spokesperson for the Philippine General Hospital.

Known as convalescent plasma therapy, the treatment is a century-old technique that has been tried and tested on numerous illnesses, most recently for diseases such as Ebola, Sars, Mers, and Swine Flu. It involves the transfusion of plasma, the liquid component of blood, from a recovered patient to a sick patient.

Much like other organizations around the world, the PGH sees plasma therapy as a possible stop-gap to hold the virus at bay while more complex treatments are developed. “A vaccine is a year out, but what if we can use the antibodies of those who have already survived to strengthen the immune system of those still battling the virus,” said Dr. Del Rosario.

Since beginning the experimental treatment very recently, the PGH has received over 90 inquiries with more than 21 passing the criteria and at least 19 having already donated plasma. At least 5 COVID-19 patients were able to receive transfusions.

“Right now, we are taking care of over 100 COVID-19 patients in the PGH, and some of those are severe and critical cases who have exhausted all other treatment options with no success. For them, plasma therapy could be the last resort. That’s why we’re looking for more donors,” said Dr. Del Rosario.

The plasma donation process for COVID-19 survivors is fairly straightforward. When a prospective donor calls the PGH hotline, he or she is first evaluated over the phone. Once found eligible to donate, PGH personnel will conduct a home visit to get informed consent and a blood sample. After that, the donor is invited to the College of Medicine in UP Manila to donate. For all COVID-19 survivors who want to donate, you may call the PGH hotline at 155-200.

Press Release: Comm&Sense wins record 9 Anvils

The Comm&Sense team, composed of Lorraine Lipar, Clarissa Osorio, Iah Ballesteros, Charlotte Fabian-Reyes (Managing Director), Jaeger L. Tanco (President and CEO), Toteng Tanglao (Communications Director), Alex Abordo, Patricial Sealtiel, Pol Villanueva, Hanna Larraga, Mitch Valcos, and Christian Sales with the team’s 9 Anvils for 2020

In just its third year of joining the prestigious Anvil Awards, Comm&Sense won a total of nine honors at its 55th edition -- its biggest haul since first joining in 2018.

Leading the roster of winning clients for one of the country’s most exciting public relations agencies is Pru Life UK, which got a Gold Anvil under the PR Tools-Multimedia/Digital category for its’ #WhyWeRide videos, which highlighted how the campaign gave a purpose and sense of community among Filipino cyclists.

PhilLife Financial also bagged a Gold Anvil in the same category for its Teachers Helping Teachers video blog series, which built a solid online following among public school teachers by producing engaging and appealing content.

PhilCare, particularly its prepaid health card line-up, was likewise awarded a Gold Anvil in the PR Programs Directed at Specific Stakeholders category for demonstrating how the sachet insurance model helped achieve the dream of inclusive healthcare for Filipinos.

Meanwhile, Zamboanga-based Alsons Power Corporation got the Silver Anvil in the PR Programs on a Sustained Basis category for the Alsons Power-Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship Program.

Named after the country’s first Filipina Olympic silver medalist and Zamboanga native, the program empowers local student-athletes who have the potential to compete in Olympic weightlifting.

San Pedro City, Laguna-based Westlake Medical Center also won the Silver Anvil in the PR Tools-Multimedia/Digital category for the Sabi ni Doc video series, which made the hospital more recognizable to residents living in its vicinity.

Comm&Sense’s affiliate, ROAR, also added four Anvils to its collection of honors, all of which are from BDO Unibank, which bagged one Gold Anvil and three Silver Anvils.

BDO won the Gold Anvil for its monthly employee newsletter The Wayfinder under the PR Tools-Publications category. Launched in early 2019, the new corporate newsletter of the country’s largest bank found ways to engage with its internal stakeholders.

As for its Silver Anvils, two came from the PR Tools-Multimedia/Digital category – first, for its Valentine’s video and second, for its influencer marketing video.

Entitled Payo para sa Puso, BDO’s Valentine’s video tackled Filipino millennials’ behavior during the season of love to teach them financial literacy with the use of animation.

Also targeted at millennials, BDO’s influencer marketing video featured Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach and former UAAP courtside reporter Angelique Manto, with the aim of inspiring the next generation.

BDO likewise bagged the Silver Anvil in the PR Tools-Exhibits and Special events category for the homecoming exhibit of global Filipino artist David Medalla.

Organized by bank adviser Mara Coson, the exhibit featured Medalla’s Cloud Canyons No. 31 kinetic sculpture, which was brought home to the Philippines from the United Kingdom as a way to reintroduce him to fellow Filipinos.

“This is truly a feat for us. For a young, 15-year old agency like us, our efforts to go beyond expectations have certainly paid off and have definitely been noticed. We look forward to achieving more for our clients through game-changing strategies that give a bang for the buck,” said Comm&Sense founder, president, and CEO Jaeger L. Tanco.

“Considering that we were already nominated for the Agency of the Year award in last year’s Quill, this record for Comm&Sense and ROAR gives us further motivation to up the ante for our clients, and perhaps the public relations field in the country,” added Comm&Sense managing director and ROAR president Charlotte Reyes.

Established in 2005, Comm&Sense is a full-service digital PR agency which believes that data-driven content, followed by creative execution, and smart amplification are the elements clients need to build credibility with their respective customers.

Comm&Sense, together with its traditional PR arm ROAR, distinguish themselves from other agencies through brand publishing – a strategy wherein brands come out with their own content.