Speakingat the launch ceremony in Hanoi on October 16, Deputy Minister of HealthNguyen Truong Son said that excess cholesterol caused cardiovascular diseases,one of NCDs that are the leading cause of death globally.
“InVietnam, NCDs are the leading cause of death. For every 10 deaths, seven peopledie from NCDs, focusing on diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer andchronic lung disease,” said Son.
In2016, there were 548,800 deaths, of which 77 percent were caused by NCDs in Vietnam.For every 10 cardiovascular patients, three have high cholesterol levels andmore than half of women aged 50-69 have high cholesterol, according to Son.
Itis estimated that Vietnam yearly has an average of 12.5 million people withhypertension, 3.5 million people with diabetes, 2 million people with chronicheart and lung disease and nearly 126,000 new cases of cancer and mentaldisorders, according to the health ministry.
Expertssaid that globalization, urbanisation and environmental change werefactors that increase unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, abuse of alcoholand beer, inadequate eating and physical inactivity. And it is these riskfactors that lead to the development of NCDs, including excess cholesterol. Therate of excess cholesterol in Vietnam was high, mainly derived from sedentarylifestyles, especially inadequate dietary and unbalanced nutritional habits ofVietnamese people.
Theaction month aims to promote the prevention of NCDs in Vietnam. During themonth, the Ministry of Health will focus activities on strengtheningcommunication and health education in the community and management of NCDs fromthe grassroots level. Free communication, consultation and testing sessions forpeople will be held in five provinces and cities and 15 hospitals across thecountry.
Healthexperts suggested measures to reduce excess cholesterol, including minimisingeating and drinking high cholesterol foods; adding beneficial fats from seafishes and vegetable oils to daily diet, practising a healthy lifestyle;increasing physical activities such as regular exercise (walking, cycling,swimming); and giving up smoking or limiting alcoholic drinks./.