Catherine Leyden admits her 'lungs are banjaxed' as she opens up on health condition

Catherine Leyden says her lungs "are banjaxed" and her "breathing is appalling" after smoking for years.

The Ireland AM chef started smoking cigarettes in her 20s and quickly became addicted to them.

Catherine was smoked up to 60 times a day at one point before quitting over ten years ago thanks to the help of a programme TV3, now Virgin Media, ran with the HSE.

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"One night, I was well over 21 at the time, I had a few friends over in a bedsit I had in Terenure. They were all smoking their lungs out," Catherine said of how her addiction started.

"One of them left a packet of cigarettes and a lighter and as soon as they were gone – the stupidity, when I think of it – I tried the cigarette. And goodnight Jack after that. I was addicted. I was smoking for years."

Catherine developed a lung condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to her smoking habits.

"My lungs are banjaxed. I’ve COPD as a result. I tried everything [to give up], nothing worked," she told the Irish Independent.

"Then about seven years ago, the producer in Ireland AM asked me would I be interested in going off the cigarettes for TV, through the HSE, over a period of about six weeks.

"I was smoking up to 60 a day [at that point], I couldn’t go to bed at night unless I’d cigarettes beside me. I would have smoked first thing in the morning and last thing at night."

Catherine hasn't touched a cigarette in years, but still feels the effects of smoking in her day to day life.

She added: "My breathing is appalling now. I can’t really go for a walk because I’m trying to catch up with people, or I’m stopping to get my breath. I’m on three different types of inhalers."

Catherine previously revealed how terrified she felt during the Covid lockdowns because her lung condition made her more vulnerable. But staying at home all day didn't help matters either and now she's trying to lead a healthier lifestyle.

She told RSVP Magazine: "I nearly lost my life being locked in during Covid. I was basically locked up at home all the time, and I got very lazy and I wasn’t going out, it was desperate stuff.

"So it’s only recently I’ve started to take my health very seriously, and I hope it’s not too late. The last few years have caught up with me, and it’s going to be a long haul, but I’m determined to make it."

"I’m watching what I’m eating, I’m trying to exercise - which I’m finding very hard, but I’m doing anyway. I’m eating a lot more fish and I’ve cut back on red meat. Plenty of fruit and vegetables is vitally important. I know I have a long way to go, but I’m certainly feeling an awful lot better."