A total of 49 per cent of men and 29 per cent of women in Bulgaria smoke, according to Deputy Education Minister Ekaterina Vitkova.

Vitkova opened the first edition of European campaign Help - For a Life Without Tobacco, Bulgarian National Radio reported. The campaign targets young people aged between 15 and 25.

Research showed that many young Bulgarian citizens, mainly high school and university students, smoke, Vitkova said.

The Government should take the measures needed to limit smoking.
Vitkova said that higher excise on tobacco products will sufficiently reduce purchases made by young people.

Everyone willing to make a test for carbon monoxide content in his body can get it for free in front of National Palace of Culture on August 31 2007.

Help - For a Life Without Tobacco campaign was launched by the European healthcare commissioner on March 1 2005, and since then has taken place in all EU countries. More than 200 000 tests have been conducted on EU territory in the period from 2006 to 2007 as part of the campaign.

Specialists say that smoking causes breathing problems, sexual problems and wrinkles.

According to medics, the nicotine in a human body disappears within three days after giving up smoking. Breathing problems disappear within three months and the risk from a heart attack is reduced by 25 per cent within one year.