A Salford man who suffered a heart attack has spoken out about the dangers of tobacco use.
57-year-old Alan’s message came ahead of World No Tobacco Day, which falls today on 31 May.
The campaign, created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1987, aims to bring awareness to nicotine and tobacco use and addiction and offer support to those wanting to quit.
World No Tobacco Day, observed annually on May 31, was created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1987.
It is a day which aims to bring awareness to nicotine and tobacco use and addiction and offering support to those wanting to quit. The WHO announced the theme for 2026 as “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.”
Salford resident Alan smoked for over 40 years, and described how the convenience of getting cigarettes and smoking whilst working on building sites and on-call driving kept the habit going as part of his daily life.
After feeling unwell and being taken to hospital in an ambulance, Alan found himself having to recover on a ward.
“I thought I had indigestion and heart burn. I was having a heart attack,” he said
Alan explained how the next day, nurses spoke to him about stopping smoking and offered him support.
He was referred to the Pendelton Gateway in Salford for an appointment, where he met his stop smoking advisor, Donna.
Alan said: “They advised me on stopping smoking, offered me help, which I said yes, please.
“Once I got past that first day, it did get a bit easier each day.
“Donna and my family, without their support, I don’t think I could have done it.”
Statutory Deputy City Mayor and Lead Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Councillor Tracy Kelly, said: “World No Tobacco Day is an important reminder that nicotine addiction can be difficult to break, especially when smoking has become part of everyday life.
“Locally, we want people to know that support is available. If you are thinking about quitting, you do not have to do it alone.
“Our free Stop Smoking support is confidential, practical, and built around you, with advice and regular check-ins to help you get through the early days and keep going. If you need support in another language, interpretation is available on request,” she added.
Alan hopes that the focus on addiction during World No Tobacco Day will help people realise that there is more to quitting then willpower, and highlighted how having support can make a difference.
He said: “If you want to stop, you’re halfway there. I think you just need a bit of help.”
Across Greater Manchester, the Make Smoking History programme runs a range of campaigns and activities every year to encourage and support those wanting to quit smoking.
Its aim is to make the city region smokefree by 2030.
More information on World No Tobacco Day can be found here. While free local stop smoking support can be found here.
Alternatively, contact Health Improvement Connect on 0800 952 1000.
