Letter to FEMM Committee – Women and Homelessness

This communication has been sent to all  Femm Committee members today. To members of FEMM Committee, European Parliament. The European Parliament has recently launched a written declaration calling for a renewed focus on reducing homelessness through a specific EU action plan. This opportunity would ensure that the needs of vulnerable women experiencing homelessness are incorporated…

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Causes of women’s homelessness

Two resolutions by the European Parliament within the space of six weeks have called for more research into the rates and causes of women’s homelessness.  The first resolution, from 14 April 2016, on Meeting the antipoverty target in light of increasing household costs, states that: “with rising household costs being a key driver of women’s…

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Pay attention to pain

Its womens no.1 Killer So paying attention to pain could save your life. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, yet the American Heart Association says sonly one in five American women believes heart disease is her greatest health threat. The commonest heart attack symptom in men and women is chest pain or…

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Equality between women and men in the EU

Equality between women and men in the EU Public consultation is open from 21/4 until 21/7/15. It will cover the following policy areas: Gender equality Justice Employment Health EU external actions EU development and cooperation Taxation Target groups The target groups are: Member States; social partner organisations; civil society organisations with an interest in gender…

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World Asthma Day 2015

PRESS RELEASE World Asthma Day 2015, 5 May 2015, World Asthma Day In the European Union women live on average five years longer than men (1) but report having lower satisfaction with their health status.  The quality of life and well being  women experience as they age is not always satisfactory. Chronic diseases such as asthma can affect women and men in different ways.  Alarmingly asthma rates have doubled in the last ten years and disproportionately affect women. Issues including: female hormones, modern lifestyles, environmental changes, can impact on the development of asthma. During the last decade it has become apparent from research that many physiological and pathological functions are influenced by sex-based differences in biology which affects patient treatment and care According to  the European Institute of Womens Health(EIWH) Policy Brief, Women and Asthma in the EU, asthma rates increase considerably in women over 40 years old, with nearly six new cases of asthma in women to one new case in men. “Women should be aware that the fluctuation of female hormones may be as responsible for Asthma attacks as other environmental factors, such as household dust, cleaning products, perfumes, hairspray etc., causing inflammation of the airways.(2),” stated Hildrun Sundseth, President, EIWH. “ Currently, little data collection occurs at EU level examining asthma prevalence, incidence, morbidity and mortality across the 28 Member States in comparison to other chronic diseases in Europe .  Data should be collected annually at the national and EU levels on the various indicators of asthma, disaggregated by gender, age and other important factors.  Regular and extensive data collection will inform government officials, policymakers, health officials and patient organisations in order to combat the rising asthma burden across the EU.(3)”, said Peggy  Maguire, Director General, European Institute of Women’s Health (EIWH). ENDS For more information please contact: EIWH, info@eurohealth.ie. +35 386 822 55 76 Facts from the EIWH Women and Asthma in the EU About thirty million people have asthma, about six million of whom have severe symptoms. In Europe, asthma is more common in females (4.3%) than in males (3.3%) ages fifteen and older with the exception of Slovenia. In childhood, boys have twice the rate of asthma as girls. However, the rates reverse once girls…

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Study to highlight mothers’ invisible health problems

MAMMI study to shed light on mothers’ invisible health problems The MAMMI study (Maternal health And Maternal Morbidity in Ireland) an HRB-funded longitudinal research project will follow over 2600 women through their pregnancy and for one year after the birth of their first baby, gathering information and experiences on a range of important health issues.…

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