Game of chance

The varying levels of health between some people from Hull and some people living elsewhere in the UK make an alarming read. But a new report says there's a chance to change that.

Life expectancy in Hull is 3.5 years lower than in more prosperous towns such as York, Scarborough and Whitby, which are about 50 miles away.
More than twice as many women in Hull aged between 35 and 64 will die from heart disease than women in those towns. And their chances of dying from a stroke are almost three times greater.
With men, twice as many in Hull will die from lung cancer as in North Yorkshire.
It's estimated that 40 per cent of people in Hull smoke, compared to 26 per cent nationally, and of those smokers, more than 38,000 people will die early as a result – that's enough to fill the KC Stadium one-and-a-half times.
These are just a few of the statistics published by Hull's Director of Public Health, Doctor Wendy Richardson, in her latest Annual Report, 'A Game of Chance – Closing the Gap on Inequalities'.

Time for change

Helpful advice: Doctor Wendy Richardson

"People in Hull generally smoke more, drink more and have a worse diet than in other areas of the UK," says Dr Richardson.
"But by making sensible choices we can improve our health by choosing to give up smoking for example, developing food skills, walking to the shops or encouraging our children to stay healthy.
"It's about having the confidence to take chances; it's too easy to talk yourself out of doing something."

Stop smoking

Ultimately, people are responsible for their own and their children's health, but the report outlines how the local NHS and its partners, including Hull City Council, will be helping inform people's decision-making. Stop smoking support groups – that cost nothing to attend – are available at 30 venues in Hull, (see contact number right), and will help people to prepare for the Government's smokefree legislation from July 1. When all public places and workplaces become smokefree zones, it's estimated that thousands of lives will be saved, and that includes reduced passive smoking.

Drink alcohol sensibly

A quarter of men under the age of 34 in Hull drink excessively or dangerously. With women, 14 per cent aged between 16 and 24 drink excessively or dangerously.
High alcohol intake can lead to mental health problems, heart disease, liver damage and cancer of the mouth, throat, breast, liver and colon. But the report also states that alcohol is probably a factor in 118,000 crimes in the Hull area every year,
The Local Alcohol Strategy Implementation Plan helps to address these problems by focusing on four key areas which are: families (including children and young people drinking alcohol), treatment services, workplace, and crime and disorder.

Obesity and diet

About a quarter of Hull children aged between four-and-a-half to six years old are overweight or obese, according to the latest research.
"We must make the most of young people's enthusiasm to develop their interest in physical activity," says Dr Richardson in the report.
In fact the local NHS is encouraging people of all ages to take up more exercise, such as walking, dance groups, and allotments and it is working with local gyms to provide reasonably priced access.
Encouraging people to eat more fruit and vegetables instead of foods that are high in fat and added sugars will bring enormous health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Chance or no chance?

Other targets in the report include reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, improving immunisation and screening rates as well as working with partners to monitor health trends and encourage the Hull public to become more involved in developing health strategy.
"We need to engage everyone in Hull in taking action to improve their health and lifestyle," adds Dr Richardson.