EU Structural Heart Disease Coalition

✨ Happy New Year from the EU SHD Coalition! ✨ 

🎄Happy Holidays from the EU SHD Coalition! 🎄  As the year draws to a close, we extend our warmest wishes to all our partners, collaborators, and supporters across Europe and beyond.  May this festive season bring you joy, warmth, and moments of peace with loved ones. Here's to a prosperous and impactful year ahead as we continue working towards our shared goals.  ✨From all of us at the EU SHD Coalition, Happy Holidays! ✨ 

🌍✨ Today, we come together to celebrate the power of unity, compassion, and collective action to tackle global challenges—especially in health. 💙🌟 This International Human Solidarity Day, let’s shine a light on health equity, including the often-overlooked issue of structural heart diseases (SHD)❤️🫀.  Structural heart diseases impact millions, particularly in underserved communities 🌎, where access to care can be limited. Solidarity means:  ✔️Breaking barriers to diagnosis 🩺  ✔️Advocating for life-saving treatments ❤️🩹  ✔️Supporting research to advance care 🔬  Health is a universal right 🌟, and every small act of solidarity—from supporting health initiatives 🤲 to spreading awareness 🗣️—brings us closer to a future where no one is left behind. Together, we can create a world where healthcare is accessible for everyone, everywhere 🏥🌍.  💬 How will YOU show solidarity for better health today? Let’s share ideas and inspire action! 💡💞    👉 Learn more about CVD here: https://lnkd.in/gKRNhTxy   #InternationalHumanSolidarityDay #EUSHDcoalition #HealthForAll 🩺  #EquityInHealth 💙#EUSHDcoalition 

Did you know? 💡 Structural heart disease (SHD) is often overlooked, and this oversight has real-world consequences. Unequal awareness, detection, diagnosis, and treatment are exacerbating health inequalities—and holding back better outcomes for marginalized communities. 💔  🔍 But it’s not just about plans; it’s also about data. Most European countries lack robust SHD data collection, leaving gaps in understanding its impact across different communities.  👉 Learn more about our work to raise awareness of SHD here: https://lnkd.in/eafvNhd7    #StructuralHeartDisease #HeartHealth #Inequalities #EUSHDcoalition

Big News! The EU Council Conclusions voted on 3 December to invite the EU Member States to adopt or update CV health measures in the framework of standalone or wider non-communicable diseases strategic agendas. This represents a pivotal milestone towards achieving political and financial commitment to improving cardiovascular health for millions of people across the EU. So what do the Council Conclusions say? #CVHealthForAll

Did you know? 💡Heart diseases don’t always "look the same" in women. 🚺 Symptoms in women can be more subtle or present differently than in men, often leading to delayed diagnosis or treatment. 💔  🔍When it comes to structural heart disease (SHD), there’s still a lack of understanding about how it presents in women. 🩺 This gap in knowledge means many women may not get the timely care they need. Raising awareness and improving research into gender-specific symptoms are crucial steps toward better outcomes for women. ❤️🩹  Every heart matters. Let’s focus on understanding women’s unique health needs. 💖     👉 Learn more about CVD here: https://lnkd.in/gKRNhTxy   #HeartHealth #Symptoms #CVD #EUSHDcoalition 

The EU has a critical role to play in addressing SHD detection and reducing health inequalities. Here's what needs to happen: ♥️ 🩺   👉 At the EU level:  ✅Develop a Cardiovascular Health Plan modelled after the EU Cancer Plan.  ✅ Include an EU-wide target for early SHD detection, focusing on underserved groups: women, ethnic minorities, and lower-income individuals.    👉 At the national level:  ✅Governments must prioritize SHD detection and treatment to improve outcomes, especially for older adults.  ✅Implement annual check-ups for individuals aged 65+, including stethoscope checks and SHD risk assessments.  With Europe’s aging population, the prevalence of SHD will only grow. Let’s act now to save lives and close the gap for those who need it most. 🌍 👉 Learn more about our work to raise awareness of SHD here: https://lnkd.in/eafvNhd7   #StructuralHeartDisease #HeartHealth #EUSHDcoalition

Did you know? 💡Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of death for women across the EU. It’s not just a "man's issue"—it’s a silent killer for women too. 💔  🔍Research shows that women face a higher mortality rate from CVD compared to men. In fact, several studies revealed that women have a lower five-year survival rate after a cardiovascular event. 🩺 This highlights the urgent need for better awareness, prevention, and tailored treatment for women’s heart health. ❤️🩹  Let’s challenge the misconceptions and advocate for stronger action on women’s cardiovascular health! 🙌    👉 Learn more about CVD to raise awareness of SHD here: https://lnkd.in/gKRNhTxy   #WomenHealth #HeartHealth #EUSHDcoalition 

Approved 💚 ! Council Conclusions on the Improvement of Cardiovascular Health in the EU: https://lnkd.in/ew79yBnP Read the Press Release from EACH here: https://lnkd.in/eQQYFUZA

🚨 Council of the EU recognises the burden of SHDs and calls for an EU Cardiovascular health Plan!❤️💪  Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death in the EU, claiming more lives than cancer.  🔑 Why an EU Cardiovascular Health Plan Matters:  CVD is preventable – Early detection through systematic heart checks can save lives. 🩺  Structural Heart Diseases (SHDs), like those affecting heart valves, disproportionately impact the elderly and women, with devastating outcomes if left untreated. These conditions can’t be prevented by lifestyle changes alone but are detectable through simple heart checks.  Rising burden – By 2040, CVD prevalence is expected to increase to 20 million cases, escalating healthcare costs and economic strain. 📊  🔧 What the Council Conclusions are set to achieve:  ➡️ Develop and EU CV Health Plan  ➡️Recognise the burden of SHDs and the importance of their timely detection   ➡️Promote secondary prevention via early detection and systematic heart checks for all citizens.  ➡️Invest in research, innovation, and data registries to combat CVD effectively.  ➡️Address inequalities in access to diagnosis and treatment.    🔍 Read the Council Conclusions here: https://lnkd.in/dXtYRZjm   👉 Learn more about our calls here: https://lnkd.in/eafvNhd7