The world faces vast challenges. One challenge is the high and rising prevalence of chronic (non-communicable) diseases. Of these, cardiovascular disease is by far the biggest challenge, posing the greatest burden on people and societies.

It is never too late to start with physical activity, and any exercise is better than none - though more is better.

The European Heart Network (EHN), European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) and European Public Health Association (EUPHA), have today sent a joint letter to European Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, strongly welcoming the commitment by the European Commission to launch a “Farm to Fork” strategy, addressing the key role of food consumption in transitioning the food system towards better outcomes for people, planet and economy, and ensuring its contribution to the European Green Deal.

Please click here to read the joint letter.

The role and impact of electronic cigarettes continues to provoke a major public health debate in Europe and beyond.

Cardiovascular patients and healthcare professionals call on Commissioner-designate for health to develop an action plan to beat EU’s leading cause of death.        

 Please click here for the EHN Annual Report 2018.

EHN and six other organisations have taken the decision to leave the EU platform for action on diet, physical activity and health. 

In order to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease we need more knowledge and innovation. A Strategic Research Agenda on cardiovascular diseases has identified a list of 15 research domains for cardiovascular research. To prioritise these, a survey is now open to everyone in the cardiovascular field: health care professionals, patients and citizens, researchers, policy advisors, and people working in the biomedical industry. Please respond.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death in Europe as well as in the European Union (EU), where it is responsible for 3.9 and 1.8 million deaths respectively every year. CVD mortality is falling in most European countries. However, declining death rates do not go hand in hand with declining morbidity. The number of CVD patients remains at a very high level; in the EU alone, almost 49 million people live with cardiovascular disease.

Within CVD, heart failure is a condition, which is common but neither widely known nor simple. The main causes of heart failure are coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.

On 3 April, consumer groups and public health organisations published a joint letter on the need for a review of the objectives and functioning of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity and Health.