There is currently a spike in the rate of patients getting chronic disease, according to a nationwide health survey.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) released in a press conference a study entitled "2015 report on Chinese nutrition and chronic disease," which discussed how the number of chronic disease patients in the country has increased during 2002 to 2012, as reported by ShanghaiDaily.com.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chronic diseases are the most prevalent forms of illnesses, taking 7 out of 10 lives every year. In the US, approximately 86% of their budget on health care is being spent on preventing and addressing chronic diseases.

Among the most common and familiar chronic diseases include Alzheimer's disease, asthma, lungs and breast cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, epilepsy, and obesity. 

The NHFPC's survey showed that 533 out of every 100,000 people in China have died from chronic disease back in 2012. Cancer, cardia-cerebrovascular disease, and chronic respiratory disease were pinpointed as the top sicknesses.

In terms of cancer, majority of Chinese men were recorded to have lung cancer, while breast cancer is the most popular among women.

The report also revealed that the rate of Chinese adults acquiring hypertension grew to 25.2 percent, and diabetes to 9.7 percent. This rate significantly grew from 2002.

But what caused this rise?

According to the NHFPC's report, as the population ages and life expectancy lengthens, the more chronic diseases are rising.

Among the main causes of chronic diseases were reported to be lack of exercise, smoking, overdrinking, and an unhealthy diet filled with too much salt and fat. In 2013, the survey stated that within the Chinese aged 20 to 69, only 18.7 percent of them regularly exercise for at least 30 minutes, three times a week. "Body movement for the average Chinese is at a low level."

Researchers from the NHFPC gathered and analysed the data from various institutes, such as the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Center, in order to form this report.

The country conducts field surveys on causes of death and health issues every three years.

Tagschronic diseases, Cancer, Lung Cancer, breast cancer, Hypertension, Heart disease, asthma, Diabetes, respiratory disease