Dubai resident smoked 40 cigarettes a day - a health scare made him quit overnight

Dubai: Dubai-based expats who once smoked 40 to 50 cigarettes a day have stubbed out the habit after developing severe health issues, including lung cancer. Despite initially ignoring early symptoms, these heavy smokers were able to quit within days. Sharing their inspiring stories with Gulf News on World No Tobacco Day (May 31), they are urging others to act before it’s too late.

“Quitting is hard but not impossible,” they said.

Read on for three powerful stories of survivors – their real struggles and paths to recovery.

Ex-smoker Hosseini

For Seyed Reza Hosseini, a 49-year-old Iranian expat working as a sewage treatment plant operator in Dubai, smoking began as a way to pass time and stay awake during long, lonely night shifts. What started casually in 2007 soon spiralled into a serious addiction. He began smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day.

“I started after watching my colleagues smoke. It seemed harmless at first,” said Hosseini, who has been living in the UAE since 2000.

“But it quickly became a habit. I couldn’t go a day without smoking two packs.”

As the years passed, the physical toll became evident. Hosseini began experiencing shortness of breath, fatigue, and even strange sounds from his lungs.

“I couldn’t sleep or breathe properly. Walking for even five minutes was a struggle.”

Concerned for his health, he consulted a lung specialist at Medeor Hospital, Dubai, who diagnosed significant lung damage. Under medical supervision, he was treated with inhalers, injections, and regular follow-ups. Determined to change, Hosseini quit smoking despite experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms during the first week.

“I had headaches, I couldn’t sleep, and the urge to smoke was constant. But I distracted myself by walking, drinking tea, and staying busy.”

The results of treatment and determination were life-changing.

“Now, I breathe normally. I can walk without stopping. My lung capacity has improved.”

Hosseini credits the UAE’s anti-smoking measures, particularly the 2017 price hike on tobacco products.

“The price doubled, and people started reducing. Those who smoked a pack a day cut back by half.”

For him, the decision to quit wasn’t just about health, it was also about responsibility.

“You have to think about your family. I used to spend Dh12 to Dh15 a day on cigarettes, i.e., about Dh500 a month. That money is better spent on loved ones.”

Ex-smoker Hassan

Hassan, a 45-year-old Jordanian expat, began smoking in his teenage years. His habit eventually escalated to two packs a day, as stress and daily routine made cigarettes a constant presence in his life.

Despite being aware of the health risks, he struggled to quit. He tried patches, lozenges, and even switched to vaping, but each attempt ended in relapse.

The consequences of long-term smoking soon became impossible to ignore. He experienced frequent wheezing and persistent coughing. The most painful moment came when he found himself unable to join friends for a game of football.

Hassan turned to a structured smoking cessation programme at NMC Royal Hospital, Sharjah, combining nicotine replacement therapy with lifestyle changes and online support groups. He started walking regularly, joined a gym, and took up swimming.

Slowly, his body began to recover. The physical and mental transformation was dramatic. Today, Hassan has been tobacco-free for more than six years. He is 10kg lighter, more active than ever, and passionate about helping others on the same journey.

Ex-smoker Adam

For years, Adam, a 55-year-old Iraqi expat, dismissed warnings about the dangers of smoking. Lighting up more than 40 to 50 cigarettes a day, he frequently visited Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital, Al Qusais, for chronic lung issues, but never took the advice to quit seriously.

Like many long-term smokers, he normalised symptoms such as persistent cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath, until one day when he began coughing up blood. A CT scan revealed abnormal changes in his lungs, prompting a bronchoscopy that confirmed the worst: lung cancer. Hearing the word ‘cancer’ changed everything. From that day, he stopped smoking completely.

Determined to fight the disease, Adam underwent surgery in Austria. The treatment was successful, and he has now been cancer-free for more than five years.

Adam’s story stands as both a stark warning and an inspiring example. It highlights how even the most entrenched habits can be broken when health is on the line and how timely medical intervention can save lives.