Cancer, respiratory ailments, and heart diseases are the major health problems in China caused by unhealthy way of living. Though people already know their unhealthy ways, they keep on doing it.

He knows that smoking is harmful but he doesn't care.

"I smoke because I work in sales and it helps me cope with the stress of meeting targets," said Wu, after she smoked inside a public restaurant. "I know it is bad for me and I'm trying to quit, but I'm still very healthy now, and I'm optimistic about my future."

The way Chinese people think about their health is different compared to how they preserved life before. During the early ages of China, when their economic status was not good enough, people were concerned about their health and have amazing views of life. But when everything else is changing, the views and opinions of Chinese people towards health also changed.

When farming was replaced by desk jobs, the major health issues in China were completely different. Diarrhea, malaria, and hepatitis are replaced with cancer, health problems, and respiratory problems.

The number of Chinese people died because of these diseases reached 8 million or 80% of all Chinese deaths in 2008. Aside from that, China has three times more than United States’ number of deaths caused by respiratory problems like emphysema in the same year.

Though treatments and medications are readily available, treating chronic diseases is indeed pricey. In July, the World Bank estimated to have spent $10.7 trillion in three decades in order to rip off one percent of the total rate of cardiovascular cases each year.

China’s economic development helped people in moving from towns to cities and eradicate poverty all throughout the country. However, the rising case of chronic diseases can impoverish a lot of Chinese families.

Lack of healthy diet is also one of the major causes. For instance, a high-salt diet can cause hypertension which may lead to different cardiovascular problems. High sodium intake in China comes from soy sauce, oyster sauce, and artificial flavors. The World Health Organization also reported that an average Chinese consume twice of the recommended amount of salt.

Hypertension is still the leading and the most preventable cause of chronic diseases that people should be aware of. If the salt intake can be limited, it can have a high impact in preventing these chronic diseases.

"We believe that it's one of the places where if you can reduce it just a little bit, not even down to the maximum recommended level, but just a little bit, you will swiftly see a positive impact in public health." says Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, a food safety expert in Geneva.

The Chinese government has to do something about it to stop the rise of chronic diseases. They can create different life changing programs or create health bills that will protect the health of Chinese people.

In some countries like Australia, their government system put an end to increasing cases of HIV and Hepatitis B by implementing some programs that will prevent these diseases. In UK, the government’s program is to stop obesity and promote healthy eating. They encouraged restaurants to post caloric counts on their Menu so that people will be more aware.

Definitely, the Chinese government will find out something and will soon make an action to the increasing cases of chronic diseases caused by unhealthy lifestyle.