YOUR HEALTH

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Sick nation: Non-communicable diseases affect 11.6mBy : Annie Freeda Cruez and Jeeva Arulampalam.
KUALA LUMPUR:
Seven out of 10 Malaysian adults suffer from at leastone non-communicable disease like diabetes, hypertension or cancer. Latest Health Ministry statistics show that 11.6 million of the 16million adults nationwide are sick with an NCD. And by all predictions, the numbers are going to get worse.The ministry is predicting that the number of Malaysians with NCDis expected to increase to 13 million by 2015.
Health Ministry Deputy Disease Control Director (NCD) Dr ZainalAriffin Omar blamed the situation on the lifestyle of Malaysians,which included higher use of tobacco, unhealthy diets and inactivity. He said changes in the economic, social and demographic aspects ofMalaysian life had led to a rise in NCD.Dr Zainal said NCDs accounted for 51 per cent of all deaths in the country.
The ministry is at odds with the worsening situation given the fact that the remedy is quite simple, involving what some would callcommon sense. "The majority of NCDs are actually preventable if people adhere tosimple habits like a healthy lifestyle with good and balancedeating," he said. Dr Zainal said the ministry was doing its best to educateMalaysians on how they could check the problem before it worsenedand burdened the nation's financial and human capital resourceseven further. He suggested a diet that was low in fats and high in fruits andvegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts. "It is also important to limit the intake of sugar and salt andreduce weight."Even a 4.5kg reduction in weight can have a significant effect onhypertension.He said blood pressure can also be lowered with moderately intensephysical activity such as 30 to 45 minutes of brisk walking.