Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn speaks at the launch ceremony of an action month on prevention of excess cholesterol in the body in Hà Nội on Friday. — Photo MoH

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health has launched an action month on prevention of excess cholesterol in the body as part of the national strategy for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for the 2015-2025 period.

Speaking at the launch ceremony in Hà Nội on Friday, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyễn Trường Sơn said that excess cholesterol caused cardiovascular diseases, one of NCDs that are the leading cause of death globally.

“In Việt Nam, NCDs are the leading cause of death. For every 10 deaths, seven people die from NCDs, focusing on diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease,” said Sơn.

In 2016, there were 548,800 deaths, of which 77 per cent were caused by NCDs in Việt Nam. For every 10 cardiovascular patients, three have high cholesterol levels and more than half of women aged 50-69 have high cholesterol, according to Sơn.

It is estimated that Việt Nam yearly has an average of 12.5 million people with hypertension, 3.5 million people with diabetes, 2 million people with chronic heart and lung disease and nearly 126,000 new cases of cancer and mental disorders, according to the health ministry.

Experts said that globalization, urbanisation and environmental change were factors that increase unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, abuse of alcohol and beer, inadequate eating and physical inactivity. And it is these risk factors that lead to the development of NCDs, including excess cholesterol. The rate of excess cholesterol in Việt Nam was high, mainly derived from sedentary lifestyles, especially inadequate dietary and unbalanced nutritional habits of Vietnamese people.

The action month aims to promote the prevention of NCDs in Việt Nam. During the month, the Ministry of Health will focus activities on strengthening communication and health education in the community and management of NCDs from the grassroots level. Free communication, consultation and testing sessions for people will be held in five provinces and cities and 15 hospitals across the country.

Health experts suggested measures to reduce excess cholesterol, including minimising eating and drinking high cholesterol foods; adding beneficial fats from sea fishes 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. — VNS