'The in-person support was life-changing' - Ryan's journey to quit smoking
Ryan Muir, 40, from Splott, was just a teenager when he tried his very first cigarette.
“It was during the Christmas lights switch-on in Newport,” he recalled. “A couple of my friends had started smoking, and we’d all got to an age where we were trying to be cool, so I had a try.
“I remember bumping into one of my really good friends who gave me a massive row about it. I felt really ashamed, so I didn’t smoke for a while after that.”
But a couple of years later, when Ryan moved to Cardiff, he tried smoking again on nights out with a new group of mates. From then on, it became a permanent habit.
“When you’re young you feel a bit invincible, so the health implications didn’t really enter my head for a while,” he added.
“But as I got older I realised my fitness levels were starting to drop as a result of smoking. I’ve also got friends who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses from it, such as COPD.
“It just woke me up to the fact that I’m not getting any younger and need to start focusing more on my health.”
The turning point for Ryan came when he started developing tinnitus – a ringing in the ears which can be associated with smoking – and sought help from his GP.
“When I went to my surgery there was a tick box asking whether I’d like support to stop smoking. I used to beat myself up for smoking anyway, so I saw it as a perfect opportunity to see what support was available.”
Within days Ryan was contacted by Help Me Quit, an NHS-run stop smoking service based out of GP practices. He received seven weeks of tailored support from a Help Me Quit practitioner and accessed 12 weeks of free nicotine replacement products worth £250.
“I was contacted really quickly by Cathy [the Help Me Quit practitioner]. I found the in-person support really helpful – I could look her in the eye every week and tell her how things had gone, and celebrate when I’d managed to cut down.”
Ryan admitted one of his ‘triggers’ for smoking was going on holiday – but in summer 2024 he realised he’d finally cracked the problem.
“I always thought I’d be okay having the odd cigarette on a trip away, but then I’d return home and return to old habits. But on my last holiday I didn’t smoke at all which was a big win for me.
“Since quitting I’ve seen some huge benefits. I’ve been able to run for longer, and it’s lovely not seeing your money dwindle throughout the week.”
Ryan has urged others to seek support through Help Me Quit as it has been life-changing for him.
“If there’s support from Help Me Quit in your GP surgery then absolutely ask for it. I’ve tried to stop in the past on my own using tablets, gums and patches, but for me it was the in-person support that was most effective in my quit journey.”
For a full list of stop smoking services locally, and to find out if you need to pre-book an appointment, please contact the Help Me Quit contact centre team by:
Calling freephone 0800 085 2219
Texting HMQ to 80818 (text cost is one standard rate message)
Going to the Help Me Quit website and requesting a call back
Smokers can also be referred to Help Me Quit by their GP or practice nurse, or if they find themselves in hospital they can access the Hospital Smoking Cessation Service and nicotine replacement products on-site before being transferred back to the community. Some pharmacies in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan also offer Help Me Quit advice and nicotine replacement products.
Read more: "I quit smoking after 40 years – and within weeks I saw my health improve"