TODAY the Daily Echo launches a groundbreaking campaign fighting back against killer diseases that are needlessly claiming the lives of thousands of people in Southampton.

Our Staying Alive campaign urges residents to get active to tackle the ticking time-bomb of chronic diseases caused by poor diet and lifestyle and lack of exercise.

It is spurred by shocking Department of Health figures released this week revealing that 13,000 of the city’s residents died early from the four major killers of cancer, heart disease and stroke, and lung disease and liver disease between 2009 and 2011.

During the course of the campaign we will be urging readers to do what they can to prevent the killer conditions by urging them to get active and stay healthy.

Whether it is classes at the local gym, where to get free health checks, reporting on the latest medical advice or simply publishing hints and tips on how healthy eating and a fit and active lifestyle can be achieved, we will do our utmost to help improve the health of those in our city.

And we want to hear your stories. Have you managed to turn your health around or do you have an active lifestyle you would like to share? We want to hear from you to feature in our Staying Alive campaign.

The drive has already won the backing of Southampton council chiefs, with Cabinet member for health and social care Dave Shields backing the initiative.

He said: “I very much support the campaign. It is great to promote exercise and we need to do our best to encourage people to have healthy lifestyles and ensure the people most at risk get the support they need.”

The sobering statistics

OUR campaign comes as figures were released that
show:
• There were 119 early deaths from cancer in Southampton per 100,000 people, between 2009 and 2011 – compared with 94 in Hampshire.

• When it comes to heart disease and stroke, Southampton residents (67 per 100,000) are almost 50 per cent more likely to die prematurely than people in Hampshire (45) and almost twice as likely to die of liver disease before the age of 75 (17 per 100,000) than in Hampshire (9)

• Deaths from lung disease in particular are 27 per 100,000 in Southampton, 18 per 100,000 in Hampshire.  Cllr Shields warned smoking is a key cause of the disease but that more should be done create cleaner air and added: “People are ex-posed to occupational hazards in the dock areas and we need to make sure we are protecting the environment and look at air quality.”

How to get started

MATT Gregory, 29, pictured, exercise leader at Bitterne Leisure Centre, has been a member of Southampton Gymnastics Club, played rugby and competed in athletics.

His exercise advice is:

• Keep it simple – don’t get caught up in fad diets or exercise regimes.

• Don’t run before you can walk – start off with small doses of exercises rather than big workouts.

• Seek help from experts – speak to fitness instructors and coaches to help plan your exercise regime.

• Vary your regime – mix up your exercises such as running, swimming, cycling and gym work. 

•  Incorporate exercise into your daily life – walk to work, or park further away from your destination, or get off the bus one stop early.

What are your top tips for staying healthy? Email us at maxwell.kusiobodum@dailyecho.co.uk.