February fills the air with red, roses and reminders of love. Couples celebrate connection, yet behind the romance is another message many overlook — this is also Heart Health Awareness Month.

After a meaningful conversation with Dr. Ariel Miranda, I realized that the best way to honor love is to protect the very organ that keeps us alive. Caring for our hearts isn’t just a seasonal reminder, but a lifelong commitment.  Dr. Miranda is one of the leading interventional cardiologists in the country. He is currently assistant chief medical officer and chair of Internal Medicine of Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of mortality not only in the Philippines, but worldwide. For Filipinos, it claims one in every five deaths. 

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Worse, heart attack victims are no longer confined to the older ages of 50 and above. It is not uncommon to see patients in their 30’s or 40’s. 

We must be mindful of the symptoms like chest pain, cold sweat, lightheadedness, nausea, or trouble breathing as they may be an impending sign of a heart attack. 

Genetic pre-disposition is one of the main risk factors that we cannot change, What we can control, however, is our lifestyle. A regular heart-check with our doctor is advisable along with an assessment of our lifestyle. I hasten to emphasize the harm that includes smoking, eating fatty food, lack of physical exercise or activities.

When a heart attack episode happens, it is an emergency situation and the victim needs to be brought to a medical facility or hospital as quickly as possible. Every second counts. The first hour after a heart attack is known as “the golden hour.”  Taking appropriate action within this first hour can save a patient’s life.

When proper medical care is administered immediately, the chance of survival is good. In a nutshell, survival from a heart attack episode depends on how fast the patient is brought to the hospital. 

What is important to note, Dr. Miranda said, is that heart attack need not be a definite death or disability sentence.  The teamwork of both the patient and the doctor is necessary. This means that the patient’s alertness and the doctors’ intervention can prevent or reverse such a potentially fatal incident.

Moreover, Dr. Miranda said, modern science had greatly enabled doctors to save heart failures. 

As you read this thinking about where to spend the night out with your sweetheart, you may want to also think of scheduling a date with your cardiologist, assess your lifestyle, and share your knowledge about heart attack symptoms with your loved ones. 

A lot of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke are invisible, Dr. Ariel said. “High blood pressure, high cholesterol — those are silent risk factors until it’s too late.”

But taking steps toward prevention, whether it’s staying on track with prescriptions or making lifestyle adjustments that lower risks, is about more than just living longer, he said. “It’s also about living with a healthy heart, healthy mind, healthy body as you age.”

In the end, love isn’t only about grand gestures or pretty red decorations. It’s about protecting the life that lets us love in the first place.

Love isn’t just something we celebrate — it’s something we protect. Our hearts carry us through every joy, every struggle, every quiet moment in between, without asking for much in return. This Heart Month, let’s finally listen. Move more. Eat smarter. Rest better. Get checked. Rest when you need to. Loving your heart isn’t extra. It’s essential. Start today.