​NHS North Lincolnshire is urging residents to consider the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle.

As part of the Scunthorpe Telegraph’s Forging Our Future campaign, the trust is seeking to provide residents with the advice and information they need to improve their quality of life.

The trust is spearheading a week of special health features, which will show you the facilities on offer in the region which can improve your physical and mental wellbeing.

Frances Cunning, director of public health for North Lincolnshire, said: “There are lots of really simple ways to make a real difference to the health of your whole family.

“A healthy lifestyle can help protect us from a lot of the illnesses we all dread.

“Even starting with a few small steps can lead to a massive improvement in how you feel and your sense of wellbeing. Everyone has to start somewhere.

“This summer could be the start of something really fantastic for you and your family.”

Among the key messages being promoted by the region’s health chiefs is for residents to put themselves forward for regular screenings against cancer.

In the UK, breast screening is estimated to save 1,400 lives a year, cervical screening has saved 4,500 lives and it is predicted that bowel screening will reduce bowel cancer by 16 per cent.

Quitting smoking, drinking alcohol responsibly and eating healthily can also improve the region’s health and life expectancy.

An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to serious illnesses such as heart disease, some forms of cancer and diabetes.

A healthy lifestyle not only helps to protect you from these life-threatening illnesses, but it will also make you look and feel much better, give you lots more energy and help improve your state of mind to cope better with the ups and downs of everyday life.

An NHS North Lincolnshire spokesman added: “Health has never been better for people living in North Lincolnshire.”

“However, inequalities still remain. Like many other parts of the UK, there is a ten year difference in life expectancy between our richest and poorest residents.