Cardiac insufficiency is turning into a pandemic, with seven new cases discovered in Europe every minute, says cardiologist Prof. Ivan Gruev, who is Deputy Director of the National General Transport Hospital. 170,000 people are treated for cardiac insufficiency in Bulgaria every year, he says further.

Tobacco smoking is a serious factor for this ailment. More than 40% of the girls and around 30% of the boys aged 14-15 smoke at least once a week, Prof. Ivan Gruev says.

Drugs, alcohol, obesity are other factors causing cardiac insufficiency. More than half of the children in Bulgaria are overweight due to a poor diet and low physical activity levels. “What we have is a ticking time bomb which will go off in 10-20 years’,” Prof. Gruev says further.