About: cholesterol

Obesity on the rise, WHO targets in jeopardy

Obesity is on the rise globally and current trends suggest that health targets are in danger of not being met, according to a new study. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Study: Consumers duped by recommended serving sizes

Trends show that consumers are relying more and more on nutritional information to inform their purchases. However, recommended serving sizes are misleading shoppers, says a new study. EURACTIV Germany reports.

High cholesterol wrongly blamed on unhealthy lifestyles

High cholesterol levels are often associated with unhealthy lifestyle choices. But in reality, up to 80% of hypercholesterolemia is genetically pre-determined. EURACTIV France reports. 

Survey reveals 90% of people are unaware of their cholesterol levels

More than 90% of adults surveyed are unaware of their cholesterol levels, or have never had their cholesterol levels tested, according to a multinational survey published by the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS).

Research links cholesterol to tendonitis and chronic pain

Chronic pain and tendon inflammation could be directly linked to high cholesterol, according to a study by the University of Canberra. EURACTIV Spain reports. 

World Heart Day announcement: EU health information system coming soon

The European Commission is planning to have its pan-European health information system operational in about one year, an official told a Parliament event on World Heart Day (29 September).

Increased awareness vital in the fight against hypercholesterolemia

Promoting awareness and improving early detection of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic condition, were the key points of an event held on 24 September. EURACTIV Italy reports.

Report: New anti-cholesterol drugs too expensive

The high price of two new anti-cholesterol drugs limits the benefits patients may see from them, according to a draft report released by a US nonprofit examining drug cost effectiveness.

Cardiologists call for new limits to ‘bad cholesterol’

SPECIAL REPORT / Researchers have called for lowering the official recommended threshold for bad cholesterol, arguing new drugs now make it possible to go below the currently accepted limit.

World Heart Federation chief: ‘It’s unconscionable how little attention cardiovascular diseases get’

SPECIAL REPORT / Although cardiovascular diseases are still the number one killer in the world, they do not receive enough attention from policymakers due to many misconceptions, says Johanna Ralston.

New drugs to tackle ‘problematic’ cholesterol

SPECIAL REPORT / New medicines soon expected to hit the European market will allow patients to lower their levels of bad cholesterol more substantially than is currently possible, opening new avenues for tackling heart diseases.

McGuinness MEP: ‘The high cost of poor cardiovascular health is enormous’

The EU should better coordinate research on cardivascular disease and take action on industrial trans fatty acids, says Mairead McGuinness.

Sanofi cholesterol drug, GSK malaria shot to get EU okay

Sanofi and Regeneron's new cholesterol drug Praluent could be recommended for approval in Europe as early as this week, along with the world's first malaria vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline.

Patented drugs double the cost of fighting heart disease in France

French doctors prescribe more patented statins than their European counterparts. The country’s health service spends €1.2 billion on statins every year, double the budget of some European countries. EURACTIV France reports. 

OECD: Cardiovascular disease deaths declining in Germany

Mortality due to cardiovascular disease has decreased by around 60% in Germany, though more people die of heart attack and stroke than the OECD average, a recent study indicates. EURACTIV Germany reports.

Heart UK CEO: It isn’t rocket science to test people for cholesterol-related conditions

Funding is being cut for screenings of patients with too much bad cholesterol, even in frontrunner countries. But testing, instead of having to treat, is much more cost-effective, says Jules Payne.

Catapano: Gene screening helps prevent cardiovascular disease

The EU could do more to provide information to physicians about patients at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, says Alberico Catapano.  

Catapano: Heterozygous FH is ‘most frequent monogenic disease’ in Europe

?In an interview at the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Congress, Alberico L. Catapano said that Heterozygous FH is the "most frequent monogenic disease" in Europe. The University of Milan researcher called on the European Union to "urge member states to provide information to physicians in order to be able to detect to the disease" and to support additional genetic research into FH.

New initiatives launched to address dangerous cholesterol

SPECIAL REPORT / Two global initiatives to address Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a cholesterol-related disease, were launched at the European Atherosclerosis Society's (EAS) conference in Glasgow this week.

Pathologist: Cholesterol is a much bigger problem than we previously thought?

SPECIAL REPORT / Some diseases related to cholesterol are more prevalent than previously thought. Therefore, politicians have to recognise that they should be allocating more money for research and screening, says Dr. Robert Cramb.

Health experts link cholesterol to other unexpected diseases?

SPECIAL REPORT / As a silent killer, where symptoms are often invisible before it's too late, high levels of bad cholesterol do not get much attention. But researchers are making the case that the condition, which is known to cause cardiovascular diseases, can also cause brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, and dementia.  

Cardiovascular experts call for more focus on genes when treating patients

SPECIAL REPORT / Today's medicines can be so precise that doctors are now able to define a disease at the right time, and tailor the therapy to the patient, according to experts. EURACTIV reports from Glasgow.