DIGESTIVE RELATED DISEASES ON THE RISE IN MALAYSIA

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), May 30 (Bernama) -- Digestive system disorders
among Malaysian adults is on the rise said deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul
Rashid Shirlin.

Rosnah said in 2007, digestive system disorders was ranked seventh among
the main causes for hospitalisation and also ranks seventh for the main causes
of death in government hospitals.

Among the common digestive problems are Gastro esophageal Relux Disease,
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, peptic ulcers and colon cancer.

"Cases of gastrointestinal cancer is on the rise in Malaysia and
colorectal cancer is the commonest cancer among Malaysian men comprising 14.5
percent and the third commonest among Malaysian women comprising 9.9 percent,"
she said in her speech at the launch of World Digestive Health Day Malaysia 2009
here, Friday.

Her speech was read by deputy Director Health Technology Assessment,
Ministry of Health Dr Rogayah Bakri.

Rosnah said digestive problems were associated with the increasing affluence
of modern society which had an impact on lifestyle.

"With our lifestyle, we would rather eat out than at home, to opt for fast
food rather than cooking at home, our food choices tend to include more oily and
fattening food and we consume less fruits and vegetable which contains
beneficial nutrients," she said.

She said the Ministry of Health has been conducting the annual thematic
healthy lifestyle campaign to educate and reach out to all Malaysians.

The World Digestive Health Day Malaysia 2009 was organized by the Malaysian
Gastroenterology and Herpetology to create awareness on the importance of a
healthy lifestyle in order to reduce digestive related diseases.

--BERNAMA