Derby man quits habit after doctors give him worrying ultimatum

Martin Balog needed surgery but that couldn't happen unless he quit the habit he started aged 15

A Derby dad-of-five who needed surgery on his foot was given a hard-hitting ultimate by doctors, prompting him to kick his smoking habit of 26 years. Martin Balog began smoking when he was just 15 and it was only when doctors told him he needed to quit in order to have surgery on his feet that he finally made the change.

He didn’t realise that smoking could delay wound and bone healing and increase the risk of infection, news which, when combined with a recent diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), reaffirmed the 41-year-old's decision to get specialist advice and kick the cigs. Martin is now celebrating four months smoke-free and is hoping to get the go-ahead for his operation soon after meeting with advisors at Livewell.

Martin, who moved to Derby from Slovakia 12 years ago, is now backing this year’s Stoptober campaign, which encourages people to quit during October. Studies show that if you can stop smoking for 28 days, you’re five times more likely to stop for good.

After struggling with wheezing and coughing, Martin discovered earlier this year that he has COPD – a group of lung conditions that causes restricted airflow and breathing difficulties. Smoking is the most common cause and the condition usually affects older adults. Martin had, like many smokers, tried before to stop smoking but, this time, he decided it was even more important to quit.

Livewell advisor, Casey, supported Martin, who speaks limited English, to discuss nicotine replacement treatment options, manage his cravings and understand his COPD diagnosis. She said: "Martin received his diagnosis at the start of his quit journey. He didn’t understand it fully, so we went through the NHS information together in more detail.

"He attended the drop-ins fortnightly to collect nicotine patches, have a chat and get a carbon monoxide test so he could see his levels dropping and staying at a safe level." Now that Martin has passed the short-term withdrawal stage, he’s feeling better and has already saved around £1,000 he would have spent on cigarettes.

He hopes his story will inspire others, particularly those from Eastern European backgrounds, to join the Stoptober challenge. Martin said: "The nicotine patches helped overcome the cravings and my breathing is much easier now I’ve quit. Casey was brilliant, she explained COPD in a way I could understand and gave me lots of encouragement.

"The doctor was also pleased with my recent breathing tests. Getting the right support and free products makes all the difference." Casey added: "Martin had a strong motivation to keep going and he understood the importance of how quitting would benefit his health and breathlessness. He should be proud of his achievement.

The official Stoptober challenge begins on Tuesday, October 1 and people can choose to stop as part of the campaign until the end of October. However, smokers can quit at any time with the help of Livewell, which offers 12 months of free support and stop-smoking treatments to Derby residents.

People interested can sign up and book a phone appointment on the Livewell website. Livewell has advisors who speak Bengali, Urdu, Slovakian, Czech and Polish. All their trained advisors engage with translator services to support people in making positive lifestyle changes.