Andy’s Story

“I was smoking up to 30 cigars a day and spending £800 a month – the support that helped me quit changed my life”

After more than 30 years of smoking cigars, Andy Pearson who is 61 and from Lazenby in the Redcar and Cleveland area  – thought his addiction was something he would always struggle with.

What started when he was in his mid-thirties gradually grew into a serious addiction.

During stressful periods in his life, smoking became something he increasingly relied on.

By 2024, Andy, was smoking up to 30 cigars a day and spending nearly £800 a month.

As well as the financial cost, his health was beginning to decline. He was regularly visiting his GP with high blood pressure and had received worrying advice from his dentist about the impact smoking was having on his oral health.

Everyday activities were becoming harder too, with even climbing a flight of stairs leaving him short of breath. A particularly difficult period, when both his wife and mother were ill at the same time, made Andy realise that smoking didn’t help him cope – it made things worse.

Looking back, he says he often convinced himself that cigars were relieving his stress, but deep down he knew they were making things worse rather than better. Eventually, he decided enough was enough and spoke to his GP, who referred him to South Tees Stop Smoking Service. That referral proved to be the turning point.

Andy still remembers walking into Redcar Library for his first appointment.

At the time, he remembers having three cigars left. Those cigars were never smoked. “The help – from my advisor Jill – made all the difference,” he said. “I would have found it very difficult to quit without it.” Over the next 12 weeks, South Tees Stop Smoking Service provided regular face-to-face support, alongside telephone contact with Jill – whenever he needed reassurance or advice.

Working with Jill helped him understand his addiction, prepare for challenges and stay focused on his goal. The service also provided him with a vape as a stop smoking aid and supported him to gradually reduce his nicotine intake over time. For Andy, having someone like Jill alongside him with support throughout the process was crucial.

Many people focus on quitting smoking as a test of willpower alone, but Andy believes the combination of expert support, practical advice and encouragement made his quit attempt much more manageable.

Alongside the support from the service, he also downloaded an app which tracked the changes happening inside his body after he stopped smoking.

Seeing improvements in areas such as oxygen levels, heart rate and blood pressure helped keep him motivated, especially on those difficult days.

Andy was also surprised by how quickly he noticed positive changes. “My breathing improved, my senses of taste and smell returned, and I found myself becoming more active.”

Friends and family noticed the difference too.

For years, people had commented on the smell of cigars on his clothes, something he had become used to and barely noticed himself. It was only after quitting that he realised how noticeable it had been.

One moment has stayed with him.

“When a shop assistant where I regularly bought cigars from heard that I was giving up smoking, she joked that she would probably see me again in a few weeks buying more cigars.”

Returning later to tell her he had successfully quit became a proud moment and reinforced how far he had come.

“She was very proud of what I had done.”

Other signs of improvement soon followed. Even his dental hygienist noticed changes and commented on the fact that he had stopped smoking.

More than two years on from quitting in April 2024, Andy says the benefits continue to come.

His health has now improved, he feels more positive, and he has more confidence about enjoying his retirement one day. Rather than feeling limited by his smoking, he now feels able to make the most of life.

“It felt like freedom,” he said. “Now I’ve quit, I just feel fresher in life. Hand on heart, I can honestly say I feel 100% better.”

Andy hopes his story encourages other people who smoke to get the help if they are thinking about stopping smoking. He believes one of the biggest misconceptions is that people have to quit entirely on their own. His own experience showed him that specialist stop smoking services can provide the expert support, encouragement and access to proven quit aids that significantly increase the chances of success.

His advice is simple: make the first step and ask for help.

“You have to want to quit, but the support really helps,” he said. “Just give it a try.”