Are we so unhealthy?

According to the European Heart Network and the European Society of Cardiology, Britain is one of the least healthy countries in Europe for heart disease.

For heart attacks, in 2006 we were sixth worst for men, and fourth worst for women out of the 16 countries investigated. Twice as many per thousand British men (44) die as compared with Dutch men (22), and two and half times as many (44) as in France (17). Among women, who are less prone to death from heart attack, in Britain the figure (11) is much higher than in Iceland and France (both 3), Slovenia and Italy (both 5).

We have a slightly better record on strokes, 10th worst for men and 8th worst for women.

Possible causes are smoking - we are about middle of the range, - 25% of men, 23% of women smoke. In terms of diet - grams of fruit and vegetables, we are better only than Iceland and Ireland. In terms of exercise we are better only than the Italians and the Irish.

How much the respective health or emergency services contributed, is not mentioned.

It has to be said, by one who is a regular critic of the present government, that they have made some attempt to bring this to our attention, and have certainly tried to deal with childhood obesity. But the comment on them and us is "Must do better".