Publish date: 27 January 2026
For Keith Roach, a patient supported by the West London Smokefree referral service, smoking had been a lifelong companion. Living with autism, long-term mental health challenges, and the effects of trauma, cigarettes felt like the one thing he could rely on.
Keith said: “I always thought I’d smoke forever. With my mental health, caring responsibilities, and the stress in my life, I believed I’d always need that quick fix.” But years of smoking were taking a serious toll on him. Keith suffered frequent chest infections, relentless coughing, and slow recovery from even minor illnesses. He explained: “If I caught a cold, it would linger. My lungs were always bringing up mucus. The coughing was horrendous.”
A turning point
Everything changed when Keith attended an nhs wellbeing event. There, he learned about stop-smoking support and took a carbon monoxide (CO) test for the first time.
Maria Romero, Smokefree Practitioner at West London NHS Trust, explained: “During a stop-smoking session, individuals’ CO levels are monitored using a breath test. It’s the first step on their smokefree journey.”
CO is a poisonous gas found in cigarette smoke. It enters the bloodstream through the lungs, increasing the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Keith recalled: “I thought my reading would be average. But it came back at 21 out of 30. That shocked me. People get tired of hearing smoking is bad but seeing that number made it real for me.”
Quitting was faster than expected
With personalised support from the Ealing Smokefree Service, Keith was offered a vape as a stop-smoking aid. Though sceptical, he gave it a try, and to his surprise, just within six days, he had quit smoking completely. He continued with regular check-ins and CO monitoring, and his levels dropped from 21 to just 3.
Keith said: “My lungs were basically like those of a newborn baby. I couldn’t be happier. My breathing improved, and my sense of taste and smell returned!”
More energy, better health, and real savings
Quitting smoking gave Keith more than just better health, it gave him energy, confidence, and financial relief. In just eight weeks, he had saved hundreds of pounds. He said: “If you want to go on a good holiday, quit smoking. The money you save will pay for it. And I go to the gym now too! Before, it was like I was allergic to it.”
According to #StopSmokingLondon, if you quit smoking for a week, you could save £45.50. And if you gave up tobacco for a year, you could save enough for a family holiday.
Keith knows quitting smoking cigarettes or getting a vape as an alternative aid does not erase all of life’s challenges, but it lifted a huge burden, at least from his personal experience. He explained: “I’m not constantly worried about getting lung disease or cancer anymore. I feel less anxious, more in control.”
His message to others: “If you want more energy, if you want to stop being ill all the time, quitting smoking is the best thing you can do. You don’t realise how much it affects you until you stop.”
Today, Keith is proud to be smokefree, and grateful for the chance to reclaim his health and future. If you want to quit smoking, or know someone who does, take the first step today and refer yourself to the West London’s Smokefree Service. More information and resources can be found on the NHS quit smoking website.