Heart diseases remain to be the biggest threat to Filipinos’ health. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO) mortality database, cardiovascular diseases (ischemic heart disease, stroke) is one of
the top global causes of death. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) also supports this finding, as their
2023 data also revealed that heart diseases are the leading cause of mortality in the Philippines. Despite
these findings, hope is not lost as there is one procedure that can help Filipinos recover from or improve
their health after heart disease: Cardiovascular Rehabilitation.

Cardiovascular rehabilitation (also known as cardiac rehabilitation) is a medically-supervised, individually
designed program that includes exercise, counseling, and education. Patients who may need
cardiovascular rehabilitation include those who have recently suffered a heart attack, those with chest pain
or stable angina, and those with chronic heart failure and peripheral artery disease. According to a study
involving more than 600,000 people from Brandeis University in Massachusetts, USA, cardiac rehab can
cut your risk of subsequent heart attacks within a year by 50 percent. In another study of 1,821 heart attack
survivors, 95 percent of those who took cardiac rehab classes were still alive three years later, compared
with 46 percent of those who didn’t.

Rehab is also recommended for people who have had surgeries such as coronary artery bypass, valve
replacement or repair, and those who have had procedures done like percutaneous coronary intervention
and pacemaker insertion. It requires a multi-disciplinary approach in implementing each of the rehab
phases. This means that a patient will receive care, information, and guidance from a team of healthcare
professionals coming from different specialties. The rehab process will usually involve the patient’s
attending physician and a cardiologist specializing in cardiovascular rehabilitation.
In the Philippines, there is still a great need to educate the public about the importance of cardiovascular
rehab. Based on 2021 statistics from the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), only 10% to 15% of Filipino
patients who have had heart procedures proceed with cardiovascular rehab.

A chance to recover at Manila Doctors Hospital
Cardiovascular rehabilitation is one of Manila Doctors Hospital’s most recent services to open under the
Cardiovascular Center. The Preventive Cardiovascular Rehabilitation (PCARE) Unit highlights its active,
collaborative method of addressing a cardiovascular patient’s needs to ensure that they recover effectively
in a safe and comfortable setting.

Established in 2014, the PCARE Unit began with rehabilitation services for coronary artery disease and
heart failure patients, such as those who have had procedures like coronary artery bypass graft and
percutaneous coronary intervention. Its new office at the 8th floor of the Norberto Ty Medical Tower inside
the MDH complex allowed the unit to expand its services and cater to patients recovering from peripheral
arterial disease.

The preventive focus on the unit means it also caters to those who are at risk for heart disease but want to
prevent it from happening by taking on an exercise program. By creating a guided program for the individual,
PCARE can help stop heart disease at the door and let the patient enjoy a healthier life.
Dr. Michelle Marie Pipo, Chairperson of the PCARE Unit, also envisions PCARE as a center where they
can create a “chain of encouragers and hope-finders” who will support each other as they go through their
heart recovery journey. She wants MDH’s patients who are struggling with their journey to find their place
in PCARE, where they can meet with fellow patients and encourage each other. “PCARE allows you to
build healthier habits and find physical activities that you’ll both enjoy and maintain heart-healthy lifestyle.
It helps to nurture their hearts and transform their lives”, Pipo added.

To know more about the services offered by the Preventive Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Unit at Manila
Doctors Hospital, call (02) 8558-0888 local 5719 or message us on Facebook.