BY: Pongphon Sarnsamak

THAILAND: Lack of exercise, alcohol, smoking and stress are giving millions of Thais high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and strokes, says Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap.

In 2006, 1,216,036 people were admitted to hospitals nationwide and 121,101 died.

High blood pressure was the most common problem, with 375,600 cases, followed by diabetes (334,168), heart disease (328,199), strokes (107,246) and cancer (70,823). Cancer alone caused 52,062 deaths.

Bad results

A 2004 health check also found that 10 million people aged over 15 had high levels of sugar in their blood and 8 million had too many lipids.

Chaiya says eating fewer vegetables, not exercising regularly, drinking alcohol, smoking and being stressed

out were the main reasons that caused people to suffer from chronic diseases.

"If people do not change their unhealthy behaviour, they will suffer with non-communicable chronic diseases and get severe symptoms in the near future," he adds.

A little goes a long way

About 600 villages across the country are taking part in a project called One District One Village, aimed at preventing chronic diseases.

People will be told to exercise at least three days a week and eat at least 1.5 kilograms of vegetables per day.

The Health Ministry is expecting to reduce the number of people with diabetes and high blood pressure by at least 200,000 per year, while cutting cancer cases by 20,000 and heart cases by 40,000.

The scheme will be implemented in all villages in the country by the end of 2013.