December 31, 2025 - The Department of Health (DOH) reported a rise in non-communicable diseases during the 2025 holiday season, with 288 cases of acute stroke, acute coronary syndrome, and bronchial asthma recorded between December 21 and December 31 at 4:59 a.m. 

This figure is 5 percent higher than the 274 cases logged during the same period in 2024, according to official surveillance data.

Of the total cases, 180 were acute strokes, with 53 incidents involving individuals aged 60 to 69. Acute coronary syndrome accounted for 77 cases, with the same age group most affected at 28 individuals. Meanwhile, 31 cases of bronchial asthma were reported, eight of which involved children aged 0 to 9.

The DOH confirmed five deaths during the monitoring period—three from acute strokes and two from acute coronary syndrome. Officials stressed that the increase highlights the health risks associated with holiday practices such as overeating, smoking, alcohol consumption, and stress.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa earlier warned that strokes are increasingly affecting younger Filipinos, noting: “As young as 29 years old, we already have cases of stroke.” He urged moderation in holiday feasts, saying: “Delicious meals should be eaten in moderation. Those are their famous last words because they end up in the emergency room.”

The DOH advised the public to adopt preventive measures, including maintaining normal blood pressure, staying physically active, avoiding excessive food and alcohol intake, and managing stress. The agency emphasized that vigilance is crucial during festive periods when lifestyle-related illnesses tend to spike.

The data was gathered from 10 pilot sites nationwide as part of the DOH’s monitoring program for acute complications of non-communicable diseases.

The Holidays Are Ending, but the Lifestyle Consequences Are Catching Up

The rise in strokes, heart attacks, and asthma cases during the holidays is not surprising. What is troubling is how familiar this pattern has become.

Every December, Filipinos celebrate with abundance. Heavy meals, sleepless nights, alcohol, cigarettes, and stress are treated as part of the season. Warnings are issued. Advisories circulate. Then emergency rooms fill up anyway. By the time the holidays end, the damage has already been done.

What this data shows is not just a health issue, but a lifestyle one that many are struggling to manage. For some families, celebrations are the only moments of indulgence after months of restraint. For others, stress and exhaustion push the body past its limits. Moderation is advised, but reality often overwhelms intention.

The fact that strokes are affecting younger Filipinos should be a wake-up call. These are not distant risks reserved for old age. They are happening now, quietly, and more often.

Health campaigns cannot remain seasonal reminders. Prevention must be constant, practical, and realistic. Healthy choices should be easier, not just encouraged.

Celebration should leave memories, not hospital bills. As the year closes, the lesson is clear. How we live between holidays matters just as much as how we celebrate them.