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17.5 million people die from cardiovascular diseases each year

An elderly woman smokes tobacco with a water pipe made of a pumpkin in southern Zambia, February 2007. Medical research has determined that chronic tobacco smoking is a major contributing factor towards many health problems, particularly lung cancer, emph Manoocher Deghati/IRIN
    NAIROBI

    Cardiovascular diseases - including heart attacks and strokes - claim at least 17.5 million lives a year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

    In conjunction with the the World Heart Federation, each year WHO organises World Heart Day activities on 28 September to boost public awareness of how to minimise risk factors for the diseases - such as controlling weight and doing regular physical activity.

    This year, heart health screening and other activities for the public are being planned in more than 100 countries worldwide. Click here to find out about World Heart Day plans in your country.

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    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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