60-year smoker stubs it out (From Bury Times)

60-year smoker stubs it out

10:57am Thursday 7th February 2008

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AFTER almost 60 years as a smoker, Margaret Thompson has proved that it's never too late to kick the habit.

For it has now been one year since the 75-year-old smoked her last cigarette.

Mrs Thompson, of Racecourse Walk, Radcliffe, first started smoking at the age of 15.

She said: "When I was 15, everybody smoked. It was fashionable and everybody did it. It wasn't a bad thing like it is now."

Over time, the number of cigarettes she smoked increased, and for the last 15 years of her addiction, Mrs Thompson smoked around 40 cigarettes every day.

She says she couldn't move anywhere without taking a pack with her. She had also started noticing health problems caused by smoking, including a persistent cough and shortness of breath.

She had often thought about quitting again, trying everything from nicotine patches to chewing gum. But after falling into a diabetic coma and being taken to hospital, the grandmother-of-two was given the shock that she needed. During her stay at Fairfield General Hospital, doctors discovered she had a lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), caused by the years of smoking.

Damian Edwards, from Bury's Stop Smoking Service, visited Mrs Thompson in hospital and invited her to one of his clinics at Red Bank Health Centre, close to her home.

Mrs Thompson said: "The service really helped me to look at ways to give up. If Damian had not visited me, I would have had no idea where to go for help.

"Damian offered me the opportunity to be counselled. He suggested using lozenges and they were so effective. It was the first time in my life that I really wanted to give up. Within three weeks all the cravings had gone. I have not smoked or taken any of the lozenges since. The encouragement and support really helped me.

"There are still times when I think about smoking again, but I don't think I ever will."

One year on, Mrs Thompson still suffers from other health issues, but all the problems related to smoking have cleared.

She said: "I don't cough anymore and I have no problems with my chest. All the conditions caused by smoking have been relieved. Whatever damage I have done over the years has gone."

As well as her improved health, Mrs Thompson has found other benefits to giving up smoking.

She said: "The difference it has made to my life financially has been unbelievable. I am not wealthy, but now I can afford to buy things. I've decorated my whole flat with the money that I've saved."

And now that she has managed to kick the habit, Mrs Thompson wants to encourage other people to do the same.

She said: "Before I would have thought there was no point giving up smoking in my 70s, but it's made a real difference. The pleasure I get now from living my life compared to when I was a smoker is amazing. I wish I'd given up 20 years ago."

Stop smoking advisor, Damian Edwards, said: "The image of smoking has changed a lot over the years, from a time when all the movie stars were smoking and looking cool.

"Margaret is a great example that it is never too late to give up. The older you are, the better it is to give up a bad habit like smoking."

Anyone wishing to find out more about Bury's Stop Smoking Service can contact 0845 223 9001.

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