In the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) only in Bulgaria the women who smoke are more than men. This was what Professor Mihail Okolyyski from the office of the world organization in Bulgaria said.
He said that in this region 28% of the adult population smoke and he also pointed out that people who smoke have a higher risk of getting a heart attack.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), effective measures to limit smoking have to be taken in the country, and the organization's recommendations for all countries are related to the full restriction of cigarette advertisements, white tobacco packaging, price increases and excise duties on tobacco products.
The alternative ways of smoking are no less harmful, warned Prof. Okolyyski, quoted by Darik. He urged the Ministry of Health to invest a lot more in prevention, health education and work with parents to prevent risky behavior among children.
In Europe, deaths from cardiovascular disease are 5-6 million per year. In Bulgaria, up to 66% of the deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases, and in a big percentage of them the primary cause is smoking, said Dr. Armen Postadzhian, chairman of the Society of Cardiologists in Bulgaria.