EAST Lancashire’s residents are being urged to take up the offer of a free health check at their GP surgery.

The ‘Stay healthy for the ones you love’ campaign is aimed at people aged between 40 and 74 who don’t have a pre-existing condition.

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The 20-minute NHS check looks at circulatory and vascular health as well as the risk of developing the preventable vascular disease.

They will focus on addressing the top seven causes of ill health: high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption.

If any underlying symptoms are diagnosed, advice and support will be given to help people lower their risk of developing heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and kidney disease.

Last year, more than 25,000 health checks were carried out in Lancashire and research shows that health checks could save as many as 650 lives each year in England.

County Cllr Azhar Ali, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Lancashire County Council, said: “It will look at people’s lifestyle, weight, family medical history, cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

“If the health professional picks up on any factors which could lead to health problems, they will be given advice and support to help people lower your risk meaning they are more likely to enjoy life for longer.”

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of Public Health at Lancashire County Council said: “Major killers such as diabetes, heart, vascular and kidney diseases can be prevented by identifying a patient’s risk factors earlier on in life.”

For more information see lan cashire.gov.uk/health.