TOP doctors have urged residents to take control of their own health this winter.

East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have called on people to take simple measures to stay well this winter by understanding when they can look after their own health.

The message comes as ‘National Self Care Week’ is launched.

The annual event, which this year runs from today (November 13) to November 19, will focus on ‘Embracing Self Care for Life’ with the aim being to ‘stay healthy your whole life’.

‘Self Care for Life’ means eating properly, taking regular exercise and looking after symptoms of common everyday illness.

Health chiefs said steps to stay well can include moving more, stopping smoking, sleeping, eating well, relaxing, keeping warm and getting a flu jab.

Dr Phil Huxley, a Pendle GP and chairman at East Lancashire CCG, said: “By boosting how you care for yourself, you can make a genuine positive impact on your physical and mental health and wellbeing.”

Dr Preeti Shuka, clinical lead at Blackburn with Darwen CCG, said: “We can’t highlight enough the importance of self care.

"Self-Care Week provides us with an ideal opportunity to stress the benefits of taking care of yourself and also recognising when to self-care and when to seek advice."