Health Report - Chronic Diseases: The World's Leading Killer
健康报道 - 慢性病：世界头号杀手
Written by Cynthia Kirk

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I’m Steve Ember with the VOA Special English Health Report.

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death in the world. Yet health experts say these conditions are often the most preventable. Chronic diseases include heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and lung disorders.

慢性病是世界上导致死亡的首要因素。但是医疗专家表示大多数的些类疾病通常是可以预防的。慢性病包括心脏病、中风、癌症、糖尿病和肺病。

The World Health Organization says chronic diseases lead to about seventeen million early deaths each year. The United Nations agency expects more than three hundred eighty million people to die of chronic diseases by two thousand fifteen. It says about eighty percent of the deaths will happen in developing nations.

世界卫生组织表示每年因慢性病而导致过早死亡的人数大约有1700万。联合国有关机构预测到2015年将会有超过3.8亿人因慢性病而死亡。这个机构说有大约80％的死亡将会发生在发展中国家。

The W.H.O. says chronic diseases now cause two-thirds of all deaths in the Asia-Pacific area. In ten years it could be almost three-fourths. People are getting sick in their most economically productive years. In fact, experts say chronic diseases are killing more middle-aged people in poorer countries than in wealthier ones.

世界卫生组织说现在在亚太地区由慢性病导致死亡的人数占该地区所有死亡总数的2/3。在未来的10年这个比率可能几乎达到3/4。人们在他们工作最繁忙的那些年最易患病。事实上，专家表示慢性病在贫穷国家中导致的中年人死亡数量要高于富欲国家。

The W.H.O. estimates that chronic diseases will cost China alone more than five hundred thousand million dollars in the next ten years. That estimate represents the costs of medical treatment and lost productivity. Russia and India are also expected to face huge economic losses.

世界卫生组织估计仅仅在中国未来的10年内治疗慢性病的开销就将超过5000亿美元。此项评估意味着医疗上的花费和损失的生产力。俄罗斯和印度预计也将面临着巨大得经济损失。

Kim Hak-Su is the head of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. Last week in Bangkok he presented a W.H.O. report on the problem. It says deaths from chronic diseases have increased largely as the result of economic gains in many countries.

金学洙是联 合国亚太经社理事会理事长。上周他在曼谷就此问题发表了一份世界卫生组织的报告。这份报告表示在很多国家经济上的获利直接导致慢性病死亡病例大幅上升。

The report details the latest findings from nine countries. They include Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, India and Nigeria. The others are Pakistan, Russia and Tanzania.

这份报告详细描述了来自9个国家的最新调查结果。这9个国家分别是巴西、英国、加拿大、中国、印度、尼日利亚、巴基斯坦、俄罗斯和坦桑尼亚。

Mister Kim says infectious and parasitic diseases have until recently been the main killers in Asia and the Pacific. But he says they are no longer the major cause of death in most countries.

金先生表示到最近为止传染性和寄生性的疾病一直是亚太地区主要的杀手。但是他说在很多国家这些疾病都不再是导致死亡的主要因素了。

Health officials say as many as eighty percent of deaths from chronic diseases could be prevented. They say an important tool for governments is to restrict the marketing of alcohol and tobacco to young people. Also, more programs are needed to urge healthy eating and more physical activity.

医疗官员们表示80％由慢性病导致死亡的病例都是可以预防的。对于政府来说可以采取的一个非常重要的措施就是限制向未成年人销售烟酒。当然也有更多的关于健康饮食和鼓励体育锻炼的计划有待出台。

U.N. officials aim through international action to reduce chronic-disease deaths by two percent each year through two thousand fifteen. They say meeting that target could save thirty-six million lives. That includes twenty-five million in Asia and the Pacific.

联合国有关官员打算通过采取国际行动一直到2015年每年减少2％由慢性病导致的死亡。他们表示达到这个目标可以挽救3600万人的性命。其中包括在亚太地区的2500万人。

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. I’m Steve Ember.