Since the signing of Proclamation 1096 on Jan. 9, 1973, the month of February in the Philippines has been designated as Philippine Heart Month. The proclamation aims to promote awareness toward heart disease as a serious health concern among Filipinos.

Referring to a class of ailments that affect the heart and the blood vessels connected to it, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been a longstanding global health issue. Accounting for the loss of 17.9 million lives annually, CVDs are usually caused by risk factors such as physical inactivity, health concerns such as diabetes and hypertension, alcohol and tobacco use, and an unhealthy diet.