Kathmandu, September 29 World Heart Day was marked across the country today by organising various programmes. On the occasion, a walkathon was organised with participation of around 150 people from different walks of life. The walkathon started from Nepal Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and moved towards Harisiddhi Bazaar, Watar Tank, Dhusal Dhara, Harisdhi Brick Factory and concluded at the hospital. On the occasion, people were also made aware of healthy eating habits and lifestyle. At a programme organised to mark the day, health practitioners were asked to promise that they would to save more lives and politicians were asked to implement the action plan for prevention of non-communicable diseases across the country. Consultant cardiologist Dr DB Karki said cases of heart diseases were on the rise because of   obesity, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle, stress, diabetes and unhealthy diet. “Cardiovascular diseases claim over 17.3 million lives worldwide annually and about seven to eight per cent of urban Nepali population suffers from heart diseases,” he added. “Heart problems among Nepali people has doubled in the last ten years,” said Dr JP Jeswal, senior consultant cardiologist at Norvic Hospital. Six million people in the country have high risk of heart problems and males are at high risk than females.  “Mostly people ignore minor heart related problems. Pain in the upper abdomen, chest, jaw and shoulders, difficulty breathing and sleeping are some of the symptoms of heart problems,” he said, adding that only way to avoid heart problems was to change sedentary lifestyle.