“Filipinos need protection from top lifestyle diseases” – cancer expert

Many Filipinos today are dealing with various health concerns. On top of the growing number of COVID-19 cases in the country, there are also other prevalent diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases—some of which are the leading causes of death among Filipinos today. 

At the recent “What’s Your Game Plan?” webinar by AXA, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, keynote speaker Dr. Rachael Rosario, executive director of the Philippine Cancer Society, noted that an unhealthy lifestyle is one of the primary causes of these widespread non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which are illnesses that aren’t directly transmitted from one person to another. There are 4.1 million deaths worldwide from excessive salt intake, 1.6 million from insufficient physical activity, 7.2 million deaths from smoking or secondhand smoking, and 3.3 million from excessive alcohol use. 

Leading an unhealthy lifestyle exposes many to various metabolic risks such as high blood pressure, increased blood sugar, elevated cholesterol, obesity, and cancer. Among all the NCDs, cancer is the leading cause of death in the country. Rosario noted, “In the Philippines, there are 141,021 who develop cancer every year. Eleven adult Filipinos are stricken with cancer every hour, while 11 Filipino children are stricken with cancer every day.” 

The second leading cause of death among the top NCDs is cardiovascular disease, a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels. This is followed by infection or pneumonia and stroke in the top 4 causes of mortality in the Philippines. The NCDs lead to 15 million premature deaths among 30 to 69-year-old demographics.

To prevent these diseases and protect yourself, she advises, “Just like in any game, one must have a strategic plan to avoid or prepare for [diseases]. Eat whole foods that are fresh from the market, stay active, and have a comprehensive health plan to protect you and your family from any financial burdens when hit with health uncertainties.” 

AXA Philippines has various health plans to cater to customers’ every need and budget. There is Health Start, which provides coverage for the top illnesses — cancer, heart attack, and stroke — and some of their early stage conditions at an affordable price, and comes with a built-in child coverage. Health Start Family, a variant of Health Start, can be shared between a policyholder and the spouse, or a parent or adult child (18 years old and above), or a sibling; and it also includes the built-in child coverage. There is also Health Max that provides lifetime comprehensive coverage for 56 major and 18 minor critical illness conditions, and a life insurance benefit in case of one’s untimely demise.

During this period of global health crisis, it’s even more important to protect yourself and your family by leading a healthy lifestyle: avoid vices, eat healthy, stay active, and have a trusted partner like AXA.

To know more, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/. For updates on upcoming AXA “What’s Your Game Plan?” webinars, follow the AXA Philippines Facebook page.