‘Cause around one in five … deaths’

A new data evaluation helps quantify the significant effects of environmental factors on heart disease cases in Europe.

Accordingly Factors such as air pollution, extreme temperatures and exposure to harmful chemicals “cause around one in five cardiovascular deaths in the European Union,” the European Environment Agency said in a briefing in early November.

What’s going on?

EEA’s latest briefing: “Preventing cardiovascular disease through a healthy environment” highlights how our daily lives and spaces can silently shape heart health.

Cardiovascular disease claim 1.7 million lives It will account for around a third of all deaths across the EU in 2022. According to the EEA, at least 18% of these deaths may be linked to preventable environmental factors.

The most dangerous contributors were identified as air pollution, transportation noise, extreme weather conditions, and exposure to toxic substances such as heavy metals and endocrine disruptors.

Together, these stressors contribute to losses of productivity and economic output linked to cardiovascular disease of approximately €282 billion per year across Europe, the agency said.

The relationship between adverse environmental conditions and poor heart health is not a brand new finding; researchers reputed But the EEA’s new forecasts help show how many lives could be improved by effectively addressing poor air quality, rising temperatures and more.

Why is this important?

Genetics and aging play important roles in heart diseases, and they are not easy to alleviate. But if environmental factors are found to be significant contributing factors to this serious health problem, the good news is that they can be addressed and lives can be saved.

Beyond the data, the report paints a clear picture: Cleaner air, quieter cities and safer chemicals can directly translate into healthier, longer lives for millions of people.

In this respect, the EEA’s message is also a wake-up call for governments, communities and families. It connects the dots between the places we live (our homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods) and our heart health.

So improving the environment is not just about protecting nature; It’s about protecting people.

What is being done about this?

The EEA highlights policies that are already making a difference, such as the EU’s zero pollution action plan, which aims to reduce premature deaths due to air pollution by more than 55% compared to 2005 levels.

Globally, the World Heart Federation recently in the name Ahead of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP30, governments and world leaders were called to “put cardiovascular health at the center of their climate commitments”. The group highlighted that air pollution and extreme heat are urgent risks that disproportionately affect heart health, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

in that local levelUrban greening, accessible parks and blue spaces are natural solutions that can improve air quality, reduce noise and encourage heart-healthy physical activity. More broadly, working to transition from dirty fossil fuels to fossil fuels clean, renewable energy It can provide global benefits at all levels.

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