A new data assessment is helping to quantify the significant impacts of environmental factors on heart disease incidence in Europe.
According to an early November update from the European Environment Agency, factors such as air pollution, extreme temperatures, and exposure to harmful chemicals “cause around one in five cardiovascular deaths in the European Union”.
What is going on?
The latest EEA update, “Preventing cardiovascular disease through a healthy environment,” highlights how our everyday lives and spaces can silently shape heart health.
Cardiovascular disease claimed more than 1.7 million lives across the EU in 2022, accounting for around a third of all deaths. At least 18% of those deaths can be linked to preventable environmental factors, according to the EEA.
The most dangerous contributors have been identified as air pollution, traffic noise, extreme weather, and exposure to toxic substances such as heavy metals and endocrine disruption.
Together, the agency said, these stresses contribute to approximately 282 billion Euros in lost productivity and economic output each year associated with cardiovascular disease across Europe.
The association between poor environmental conditions and poor heart health is not a brand new finding – researchers have recognized these links globally for some time. But the new EEA estimates help show how much lives can be improved by effectively tackling poor air quality, rising temperatures, and more.
Why is this important?
Genetics and aging play major roles in heart disease, and they are not easily mitigated. But if environmental factors are identified as significant contributors to these serious health concerns, 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 translate directly into healthier, longer lives for millions.
In this way, the EEA message is also a wake-up call for governments, communities, and families. It connects the dots between the spaces we live in — our homes, workplaces and neighborhoods — and the health of our hearts.
In other words, improving the environment is not only about protecting nature; it’s about protecting people.
What is being done about it?
The EEA points to policies that are already making a difference, such as the EU’s zero pollution action plan, which aims to reduce premature deaths linked to air pollution by more than 55% compared to 2005 levels.
Globally, the World Heart Federation recently called on governments and world leaders to “place cardiovascular health at the center of climate commitments” in the run-up to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP30. The group emphasized that air pollution and extreme heat are particularly pressing risks that disproportionately affect heart health in low- and middle-income countries.
At the local level, urban 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 clean, renewable energy at every level can deliver global benefits.
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