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Health minister reports declining number of smokers and less alcohol consumption in Russia

Another positive factor is that "the number of people going in for sport has grown from 15 million to 35 million since 2013, Veronika Skvortsova added

© ITAR-TASS/Sergey Fadeichev

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MOSCOW, April 7. /TASS/. Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova has reported positive tendencies in Russia, where the population has become healthier because 17 % gave up harmful habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, which went down to 11 liters per year against 16 liters in 2008, the minister said on the occasion of the World Health Day marked on Tuesday.

"Since 2008 alcohol consumption has dropped by 27% per capita — from approximately 16 liters reported in 2008 to 11 liters. The number of smokers has dropped by 17 %, which is an especially encouraging factor because smoking as well as high blood pressure are the worst factors which cause pathology of the heart and blood vessels," the minister said.

Another positive factor is that "the number of people going in for sport has grown from 15 million to 35 million since 2013," the minister said. "Children have been involved in regular sport activities 3.5 times more than in 2013," she said.

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