health
Heatwaves: how can Europe make its cities healthier and be better prepared?
Extreme weather events such as heatwaves are no longer merely an environmental concern; they are recognised as a global public health emergency. According to the WHO, approximately 175,000 deaths annually in the European region are linked to extreme heat. As these harmful events become more frequent, affecting both our health and our healthcare system, the ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Prof. Roel Vermeulen on extreme weather and the impact on our health
“We should treat extreme weather events as an important health issue in Europe,” says Prof. Roel Vermeulen, professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Exposome Science at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. Across Europe, we’re seeing more extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, floods, droughts, and wildfires. What are the main ...
A scientist’s opinion: interview with Dr Paulo Morgado on extreme weather and the impact on our health
Dr Paulo Morgado is associate professor at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning of the University of Lisbon (Portugal). He studies smart cities and how city design affects the human brain and health. We often talk about the physical health effects of extreme weather. How does it also affect stress and mental well-being in ...
Dr Vanessa Harris on planetary health research: exploring the links between the health of humans and the health of ecosystems
Dr Vanessa Harris is an infectious diseases physician and Assistant Professor at the Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam (UvA). Her research focuses on diarrheal diseases in children under the age of five, investigating environmental impacts on disease risk, prevention and vaccine performance in high-risk settings, and indirect effects of having diarrheal ...
Unveiling the human exposome: A new frontier in environmental health science
While genomics has revolutionised our understanding of hereditary health conditions, research suggests that up to 90% of disease risks are actually linked to environmental exposures rather than genetics alone. Improved understanding and prevention of chronic illnesses, which account for most healthcare costs in Europe, can be achieved by focusing on the human exposome: the measure ...
Long Covid: The ‘invisible illness’ people must learn to see
In Europe, Long Covid has impacted around 36 million people over the first three years of the pandemic. However, the disease’s complexity, novelty, and often invisible symptoms, combined with a lack of public understanding, have led to many patients being dismissed or doubted by doctors, policymakers, colleagues, and even their loved ones. As a result, ...
Interview with Frederico Guanais on Long Covid: ‘awareness and understanding are essential’
Frederico Guanais is Deputy Head of the OECD Health Division, where since 2019 he has led work on patient-reported indicators, health statistics, people-centred care, climate and health, support to health reforms, and regional initiatives in Latin America. The ESMH spoke with him ahead of the STOA workshop “Long Covid: Current Realities, Future Directions” where he ...
Interview with Gez Medinger: ‘We should discuss why Long Covid is such a significant issue – for healthcare but also for the economy’
Gez Medinger is an investigative science journalist and patient advocate for Long Covid. He became ill with Covid in the early days of the pandemic. When he didn't recover, Gez put his efforts into researching the novel condition of Long Covid and turning his YouTube channel into a huge resource for patients. The ESMH spoke ...