Healthy citizens
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Large glazed surfaces deliver more than we think
By providing access to natural daylight and a visual connection with the external environment, glass ensures health and well-being in all type of buildings.
Kidney health and climate change: Shedding light on a long-neglected relationship
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is often described as the invisible killer, mostly because patients have few or no symptoms until it is too late. On the practical level, this means that the disease, although devastating for both the individual and...
MEPs are calling for complete elimination of cancer-causing asbestos
The European Parliament has called for the creation of a strategy to completely eliminate cancer-causing asbestos in a bid to strengthen workers' protection and reduce exposure to this common chemical. VideoPromoted content
Good Off-Label Use Practice of Medicines
Before a drug makes it onto the market it is vigorously tested and needs to be authorized, either by a national competent authority or EMA, the European Medicines Agency. All the information on when a medicinal product can and cannot...
Pandemic could have far reaching effects on bone health, expert warns
The COVID pandemic may have far-reaching consequences on bone health, due to a combination of lack of physical activity and late diagnosis, according to Jane Barratt, secretary general of the international federation of ageing.
Reducing air pollution could save 50,000 deaths a year, says new Lancet report
Reducing air pollution to World Health Organisation recommended levels would prevent more than 50,000 deaths a year across European cities, according to a new study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal.
Without prioritising walking and cycling, EU mobility strategy is a lost opportunity
An EU strategy boosting walking and cycling would have been key to clean up the air in our cities, achieve the EU’s climate goals and prevent disease, argues Anne Stauffer.
Scotland first in the world to make sanitary products free
Scotland on Tuesday (24 November) made sanitary products free to all women, becoming the first nation in the world to take such a step against “period poverty.” The measure makes tampons and sanitary pads available at designated public places such...
Further guidance required for assessment of gene drive technology, says EFSA
Existing guidelines are adequate for evaluating risks associated with gene-drive modified insects, but further guidance is needed for some areas, most notably for environmental risk assessments, according to an opinion of the EU's food safety agency (EFSA).
Transparency in the race for a COVID vaccine
As the coronavirus crisis continues to have a devasting impact on people’s lives and livelihoods, all eyes are on scientists to deliver on a COVID-19 vaccine. It is widely accepted that a safe and effective vaccine represents our best chance...
Broken bones, shattered lives: call for action as EU faces rise in osteoporosis
Despite the identification of clear, actionable steps in the prevention of fragility fractures and osteoporosis, EU policy action on the matter remains lacking as the situation is set to worsen. But a new policy toolkit aims to help change this.
Preventing osteoporosis in the EU
Osteoporosis is a chronic condition in which bones become weak and brittle, leading to fractures and breaks which often carry life-debilitating consequences. As well as causing considerable mental and psychological distress, they also severely impair people’s abilities to participate in...
Osteoporosis prevention can start in the womb, says health expert
The narrative that osteoporosis is a natural consequence of ageing must be challenged and emphasis must be given to a smarter way of screening to reduce the risk of fracture and the associated costs, the president of the International Osteoporosis Foundation, told EURACTIV in an interview.
COVID-19: Time to show citizens that they can count on Europe
European citizens have been exemplary in their fight against COVID 19. They have bravely overcome an acute sanitary threat and paid the high economic, social and psychological price of the lockdown, write a group of European lawmakers.
COVID-19 pandemic hinders access to care for patients with rare diseases
Nine out of ten people living with rare diseases across Europe have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, including three out of ten who said that this has caused “life-threatening” disruption, according to a recent study by EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe. VideoPromoted content
Rare diseases Day at the European Parliament
People living with SMA, ALS and other rare disease was the focus of the Rare Disease event at the EU Parliament on 18 February. The event was organised by Biogen in collaboration with EURORDIS, the patient organisation for rare diseases.
‘This is personal’: Von der Leyen launches consultation on EU’s Cancer Plan
The President of the European Commission launched an EU-wide public consultation on Europe's Beating Cancer Plan on Tuesday (4 February), announcing an EU-wide "open health data space" in support of research, prevention and cure.
Whole grains ‘key part of a healthy diet’
In an interview with EURACTIV, Michaela Pichler, secretary-general of the International Association for Cereal Science and Technology (ICC), spoke about the importance of whole grains, but also about the lack of industry standards, labelling and promotion of whole grain foods.
Whole grain diet can slash risk of cardiovascular disease, says researchers
Increasing the daily intake of whole grains to 30-40g reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by up to 20%, EURACTIV.com heard at a recent event to mark the first International Whole Grain Day.
New EU Commission should take on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
The new European Commission should tackle "head-on" rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, the president of the European League Against Rheumatism (Eular) told EURACTIV in an interview, referring to chronic diseases that affect one-quarter of all Europeans, creating healthcare and social security costs.
Velux CEO: ‘If you want the most energy efficient home, live in a cave’
Companies and lawmakers must take more responsibility in helping to solve issues related to buildings, including reducing carbon emissions and improving health standards, according to Velux CEO David Briggs.
1 in 3 children live in unhealthy homes, warns ‘alarming’ report
A third of European children live in damp, cold, dark or noisy homes, according to new findings released last week. Portugal is the worst offender in the EU, with one in two kids exposed to unhealthy conditions.
Healthy homes: ‘The biggest health and business opportunity of a lifetime’
Indoor environment quality and healthy homes play an ever more substantial role in human wellbeing, according to new research unveiled at a high-level event last week (10 October).