Cancer, Respiratory Illness Remain China's Biggest Health ThreatsStatistics released by China's Ministry of Health (MOH) show that cancer and respiratory illness remain the biggest health threats to the Chinese people.About 140 out of every 100,000 Chinese urbanities died of cancer and some 133 out of every 100,000 rural people died of respiratory illnesses last year, making these the major causes of death in the country. Cancer replaced cerebral hemorrhage as the number one killer in cities in 1997, and men appear to be more susceptible to the disease than women. Respiratory illness caused fewer deaths last year than in 1998, but still remained the most serious threat to people in rural areas. Cancer has surpassed cerebral vascular diseases as the second most deadly disease in China. Ten major diseases account for more than 91 percent of all deaths in the country, and these include cerebral hemorrhages, heart attacks, injuries and poisoning, digestive tract problems, as well as disorders of the urinary and reproductive systems. More urbanites have problems with endocrine, neurological, and mental disorders, and rural people still must deal with infant illnesses and tuberculosis. Health experts explain that rural people often have little or no access to medical services, and some infectious diseases are still not under control, posing a serious health problem. However, many urbanites with better access to medicare are now facing new problems such as nervous disorders caused by the pressures of excessive work and competition, they noted. |
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