According to the Department of Health, heart diseases such as rheumatic fever, hypertension, and the buildup of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery wall are among the leading causes of death in the Philippines.

In this regard, the government, through Proclamation No. 1096, series 1973, declared February of every year as the Philippine Heart Month to raise awareness on how urgent it is to attend to the growing prevalence of heart disease cases in the country.