She used to pinch cigarettes from her parents, smoked for more than 30 years and didn't even stop when she developed bronchitis.
But Northumberland 's Karen Pugh finally kicked the habit with the help of her mum and her daughter - who both stopped too. Three generations of her family - including mum Joan and daughter Bobbie - were smokers. But with the help of e-cigarettes all three have ditched the fags and are now delighted by the health and financial benefits.
Karen, 49 and from Cramlington, began smoking at 14 and would smoke 20-a-day. She said: "Both my parents were smokers and I used to pinch cigarettes from their packs in the morning to bring with me to school and smoke with my friends. I didn’t know back then that it was the start of a 35 year-long addiction."
Sadly, she developed health issues and found herself with bronchitis. This inspired her to quit, but she found it hard going and nicotine patches didn't do the trick. She said: "I couldn’t catch my breath, I’d be exhausted just walking up the stairs. I ended up in the hospital and was diagnosed with bronchitis.
"Not long after I was at my granddaughter’s birthday party and felt so unwell. I was watching my grandchildren playing and felt the strongest desire to be there to see them grow up. That was when I decided to quit.
"Nicotine patches used to give me the most horrendous nightmares but I tried to stick it out. I quit for nine months using patches but I’d go on a night out and think I could get away with having one cheeky cigarette. Before I knew it I was back to my old ways. My husband used to tell me I stank."
But Joan and Bobbie - who both were also "smoking our health away" with 20-a-day habits - decided to quit too. "My mum told me that she was concerned about her health and her age, and that if she could do it I could too, and my daughter suggested trying e-cigarettes. You end up getting addicted to the hand-to-mouth action so it helps to feel like you’re fiddling with a cigarette."
Now, using e-cigarettes Smoko, the trio have all been off the cigarettes for six years. aren shared her advice for others.
"I tried one cigarette a year after quitting and it almost made me throw up. I can’t stand the smell now," she said. "I can’t believe I used to smell like that. No wonder my husband told me I stank! It’s easy to replace one unhealthy habit with another, but I found spending more time exercising helped me to keep my mind off smoking and having something to keep your hands busy reduces cravings."
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