Coleen Nolan has stopped smoking after 40 years and has exposed the financial consequences of the habit.
The Loose Women actress had been smoking 30 cigarettes every day for four decades, costing her an estimated half a million pounds.
She now sees that the approximately £14,000 per year may have been better spent on non-health-related activities like family vacations or a vehicle.
Coleen, 59, has spoken out in favour of National No Smoking Day (March 13), when the government and charities encourage the public to quit smoking. She made the choice three months ago.
She pointed out that smoking is no longer regarded attractive.
‘Back in the day when I started it was classed as really cool but no, it’s actually really antisocial.
‘They are a fortune now.
‘Basically, you may as well take that £20 a day or whatever it is and just set fire to it, as that is effectively what you are doing and killing yourself at the same time,’ she stated. A pack of 20 cigarettes is now at least £11.
Coleen had a health crisis three months ago, and she saw it as a message to quit.
Coleen recounted the key event on Good Morning Britain, saying she had the flu, but since she smoked, it turned into an acute serious chest infection, for which she was prescribed medicines.
Coleen was sleeping in a hotel before recording an episode of Loose Women in London when things became worse.
‘I couldn’t breathe. I got from the lift to the bedroom and I couldn’t breathe. I could not get my breath and then had a panic attack. I thought “I’m going to die on my own”.’
Her partner Michael Jones arrived and calmed her down, but when she returned home, her daughter Ciara was afraid she might die.
‘It scared me so much,’ she shared.
‘I can’t repair the damage I’ve done, but I can certainly stop it from getting worse.’
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were 6.6 million smokers in Britain in 2021, accounting for 13% of the total population. It not only costs individuals and the NHS money due to health issues for patients, but it also causes cancer and fatalities every year.
The government aims for the UK to be smoke-free by 2030, and Coleen highlighted there are currently free resources to quit.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
Source My Celebrity Life.