ONE IN THREE MALAYSIAN PATIENTS DIES FROM NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

PUTRAJAYA, July 9 (Bernama) -- One in three patients in Malaysian hospitals
dies before reaching 60, from non-communicable diseases (NCD), Health
director-general Dr Hassan Abdul Rahman said Saturday.

The NCD could be cancer, hypertension or diabetes, he said, adding that the
death was caused largely by unhealthy lifestyle and lack of disease management.

He said the average male lifespan was 70 years while for female, 80.

Dr Hassan was speaking to Bernama here after launching the 2011 Active Mind
and Body Programme: Maintain Active Mind and Body with 10,000 Steps.

He noted that the NCD rate in the country was still high despite various
campaigns on healthy lifestyle practices, including exercise and adoption of
better eating habits.

A previously reported health ministry study between 1996 and 2006 showed
an obvious increase in NCD incidences over 10 years, with obesity leading
by an increase of almost 220 per cent.

Diabetes was up by 80 per cent and hypertension, 44 per cent.

Dr Hassan said patients with NCD suffered throughout their lifetime, were
burdened with medical fees and saw a disruption of their family life.

One preventive measure was brisk walking, as many as 10,000 steps a day,
during work or recreation, done according to an individual's capacity.

The '10,000 Steps' campaign by Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai
was well supported by non-governmental organisations and private sector
companies which frequently organised events since its launch in June 2009.

-- BERNAMA