The number of people suffering from heart disease has topped 230 million, causing nearly three million deaths per year, according to Pan Jing, an official from the Ministry of Health, Chinanews.net reported Wednesday.

Cardio-cerebral vascular diseases, commonly known as heart disease, stroke, and aneurysms, are closely linked to unhealthy lifestyles, a major problem in China, Pan said.

"The mortality of cardio-cerebral vascular illness is higher compared to other diseases in the past decade and also in countries like Japan, the United States and France," said Huo Yong, an official from the Ministry of Health.

He said quitting smoking and losing weight can reduce the risk of contracting such diseases.