The World Heart Federation will host a Special Session at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health on 9 March at 12.20pm, which will focus on the link between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and tobacco.
The goal of this session is to demonstrate the role that the CVD community can play in tobacco control and to mobilise the CVD community to increase its efforts in advocating for tobacco control.
Cardiovascular disease kills more people than any other cause of death worldwide, and tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure contribute to approximately 12% of all heart disease deaths. Tobacco use is also the second leading cause of CVD, after high blood pressure. Despite the known harms of tobacco to heart health, and the availability of solutions to reduce related death and disease, knowledge among large sections of the public that tobacco is one of the leading causes of CVD is low.
The panel session will last about 90 minutes and will feature a range of expert speakers from different parts of the world. It highlights the upcoming theme of the World Health Organization World No Tobacco Day, which will take place on 31 May and will focus on the important link between tobacco and heart disease. The campaign aims to increase awareness on the link between tobacco and CVD, including stroke, which is the world’s leading cause of death. The campaign will also promote feasible actions and measures that governments and the public can take to reduce the risks to heart health posed by tobacco.
The World Congress on Tobacco or Health will be held on 7-9 March in Cape Town, South Africa. The complete conference programme is available here.
