More falling prey to chronic diseases

NST: The trend is frightening. More and more young people are falling prey to chronic diseases.Studies show that more than five million young Malaysians could become victims of diabetes, hypertension, heart ailments and stroke next year.
And if the young do not change their lifestyles, eating habits and quit smoking, by 2020 the figure will rise to 10 million.
The study indicates that some 2.3 million smokers, 420,200 obese people, 1.5 million overweight people, 8.4 million who are physically inactive, 410,650 who have impaired glucose tolerance and 2.1 million who consume alcohol are at risk of chronic diseases.
One study conducted between the year 2000 and 2003 by the Health Ministry, for instance, showed young men below 29 being hospitalised with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke.
The situation is bad enough without this trend: Every day, about 110 Malaysians suffer a stroke, the country’s third killer after cancer and heart attack. More than 40,000 new cases are reported annually.
The need to come to grips with this trend is the reason why the Health Ministry is targeting those above 18 years in its planned National Health and Morbidity Study 2006.
Public Health Specialist Association president Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar, said: "We need to know what diseases are afflicting youngsters."
Dr Zainal said many young men were also becoming victims to chronic diseases in their most productive years due to smoking, intake of food containing high levels of cholesterol, saturated fat and salt, and leading a sedentary lifestyle.
"Smokers have a higher risk of developing a number of chronic disorders," he said.
It is learnt that women who smoke and use oral contraceptives greatly increase their risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, compared with non-smoking women who use oral contraceptives.
Dr Zainal said Malaysians were blessed with a lot of rich food which was, unfortunately, high in cholesterol, fat and salt.
"Malaysians must learn to reduce the intake of food high in cholesterol, including nasi lemak and fast food," added Dr Zainal.
"Many of those suffering from heart disease and stroke are between the age of 30 and 49, the productive age, which is affecting individuals, families and the nation," said Dr Zainal, adding 25,756 people were hospitalised with IHD and 7,747 with stroke between 2000 and 2003 in government hospitals.