Cardiovascular disease, mainly through coronary artery disease (CAD), is the number one killer in men and women in Europe even though most deaths and disabilities from CAD could be avoided by adopting healthy lifestyles. Because most CAD risk factors usually have no warning signs, continuous and intensive education on a healthy lifestyle at a population level is of enormous importance. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC), together with its National Cardiac Societies and the support of the European Union and other professional organizations, initiated the pan-European EuroHeart prevention project, with the aim of reducing the burden of CAD in Europe. The first year of the project clearly established the undisputable role of National Cardiac Societies in CAD prevention...