Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search


Español  Other Languages


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
 Search

		Submit


*Tips From Former Smokers* ®


Section Navigation
			
			CDC Home








Tammy W.’s Story						Español (Spanish)							Print
																Related Pages
										Tammy W.Meet Tammy W.Tammy, age 50, is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians tribe and lives in Michigan. A life-long runner, Tammy always ate right and stayed away from drugs and alcohol.
But for years, Tammy smoked menthol cigarettes. She told herself that smoking was a “side hobby” instead of an addiction. She thought that menthol cigarettes were less harmful than non-menthol cigarettes, and that exercising and eating right would keep her safe. However, by the age of 44, Tammy needed open-heart surgery to keep her alive.
Since her recovery, Tammy still runs, but not as far or as fast as she used to. “I miss not being able to run as far as I want to,” she said.
Tammy quit smoking after her surgery. “Open-heart surgery and the possibility of dying motivated me,” she said. “Life is a gift. I want to stay here as long as I can.”On This Page
			Tammy W.'s VideosTammy W.'s BiographyMore About Tammy W.Additional ResourcesMore Related Stories
		
Free Quitting ResourcesTelephone
1-800-QUIT-NOW
1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
1-800-838-8917 (中文)
1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)Smartphone Apps/Text
Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
quitSTART appexternal iconWeb
Quit Smoking (En Español)
Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal iconTammy W.’s VideosTammy W.: Everything Right TipAudio Description Low Resolution Video
Tammy W. ate a healthy diet and ran every day. She smoked menthol cigarettes because she thought they were less harmful than other cigarettes. In this ad, Tammy talks about her heart disease and open-heart surgery. She shares how the surgery helped her realize there is no such thing as a “healthy” cigarette.Tammy W.: Stress Relief TipAudio Description Low Resolution Video
Tammy W. smoked because she thought it helped relieve her stress. In this ad, Tammy shares how smoking cigarettes led to a very stressful procedure – open-heart surgery.Tammy W.: The Reality of SmokingAudio Description Low Resolution Video
Tammy W. ate healthy and ran marathons. She also smoked for 23 years. At age 44, Tammy learned she had severe heart disease. In this video, Tammy talks about needing to have open-heart surgery. She shares how it felt to see her mother worried at the hospital.Best Friend TipAudio Description Low Resolution Video
Some of the people featured in the *Tips From Former Smokers*® (*Tips*®) campaign used to think cigarettes were their “best friend.” In this ad, they talk about needing a better friend.On This Page
			Tammy W.'s VideosTammy W.'s BiographyMore About Tammy W.Additional ResourcesMore Related Stories
		
Free Quitting ResourcesTelephone
1-800-QUIT-NOW
1-855-DÉJELO-YA (Español)
1-800-838-8917 (中文)
1-800-556-5564 (한국어)
1-800-778-8440 (Tiếng Việt)Smartphone Apps/Text
Text QUITNOW to 333888—Message and data rates may apply
quitSTART appexternal iconWeb
Quit Smoking (En Español)
Smokefree.govexternal icon (En Español)
Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal iconPersons with disabilities experiencing problems accessing these videos should contact CDC-INFO at CDC-INFO email form: https://www.cdc.gov/info, 800-232-4636 or the TTY number at (888) 232-6348 and ask for a 508 Accommodation PR#9342. If emailing please type “508 Accommodation PR#9342” without quotes in the subject line of the email. Please include the URL of the site in the Subject line of your email request that you would like to access.
View more *Tips*videos sorted by name, disease and specific groups
View the *Tips*YouTube video playlist
Top of PageTammy W.’s Biography
Tammy, age 50, lives in Michigan and is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians tribe. She grew up with a large extended family, many of whom smoked cigarettes.
Tammy W
Tammy’s family affectionately called her “the healthy one.” She loved to run. She ran track in high school and later in life participated in marathons. She ate a healthy diet and stayed away from drugs and alcohol. “Smoking was the only thing I did wrong,” Tammy recalled.
At the age of 21, Tammy joined the Army. During training, she noticed that people who smoked were granted longer breaks to rest. Tammy decided that she would start smoking to get the same extra break time. She smoked menthol cigarettes on and off for the next 23 years, usually smoking more when she was stressed.
Tammy started working at her tribe’s health office in her mid-30s. She kept her smoking a secret from everyone. She would go running during her lunch hour, lighting up a cigarette when she was far enough from the office so her coworkers wouldn’t catch her smoking. “I knew it was wrong,” Tammy recalled. “When you’re trying to hide something from people, it’s a good sign that you’re doing something you know you shouldn’t be doing.”
She told herself that smoking was a “side hobby” instead of an addiction. She thought that menthol cigarettes were less harmful than non-menthol cigarettes, and that exercising and eating right would keep her safe. Then, in her early 40s, Tammy started feeling pain and pressure in her chest when she ran. She got winded easily, and she passed out a couple of times. Her back was sore, and she couldn’t catch her breath. She knew something was very wrong.
When Tammy saw a doctor, she was shocked to learn that she had severe heart disease. The blood vessels in her heart were almost completely blocked. She had open-heart surgery the next day. “I remember going in and the look on my mom’s face,” Tammy remembered. “She thought I was going to die.” She was only 44 years old.
Tammy quit smoking after her surgery. It took a full 6 months into her recovery before she could even return to working behind a desk. But she was determined to move forward. “It hurt, but I kept moving,” she said. “I just had to. It reminded me that I was still alive.”
Today Tammy still runs, but not as far or as fast as she used to. “I miss not being able to run as far as I want to,” she said. She can’t pick up heavy things. She goes to the gym a few times a week if she’s not too tired after work.
She says if she can save even one person from smoking, her experience will have been worth it. “You don’t get a do-over on some things,” Tammy said. “Don’t smoke, because you will lose something that matters to you.”
Top of Page
More About Tammy W.Amanda's Print Ad - EnglishPrint AdTammy W.’s Tip [PDF – 2.3MB]Top of PageAdditional Resourcesmenthol cigarettesMenthol CigarettesGet the FactsNurse checking patient's heart beatHeart Disease and StrokeGet the FactsMore Related Stories
More Real Stories about heart disease and stroke:BrianMeet Brian H.Elizabeth B.Meet Elizabeth B.Ethan B.Meet Ethan B.Mariano Z.Meet Mariano Z.Noel S.Meet Noel S.Roosevelt S. and his sonMeet Roosevelt S.Suzy H.Meet Suzy H.Tonya M.Meet Tonya M.See all *Tips*Participant StoriesTop of Page
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  February 5, 2024						Source: 	Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
					Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate home*Tips From Former Smokers* ®
About the Campaignplus icon
Frequently Asked Questions
*Tips* Impact and Resultsplus icon
Publications and Evaluation Results
Burden of Cigarette Use in the U.S.
How to Quit Smokingplus icon
5 Ways Quitlines Helpplus icon
Top 10 Qs about Quitlines
National Texting Portal
quitSTART App
7 Common Withdrawal Symptoms
Tips For Quitting
Learn About Quit Smoking Medicinesplus icon
Three Reasons to Use Medicines When You Quitplus icon
They make quitting less painful
Quit smoking medicines are much safer than smoking
They help you get through the toughest times
How Quit Smoking Medicines Work
Quit Smoking Medicinesplus icon
Nicotine Patch
Nicotine Lozenge
Nicotine Gum
Nicotine Oral Inhaler
Nicotine Nasal Spray
Combining Medicines
Varenicline
Bupropion SR
Getting Coaching with Medicine
Quitting without Medicine
Five New Ways to Quit with Medicines
Six Quick Tipsplus icon
Medicine Tips Just for You
Why Quitting Smoking Is Hard
Quitting Storiesplus icon
Betty’s Story
Daniel’s Story
Select-Lot Varenicline Recall
Real Stories
Diseases/Conditions Featured in the Campaignplus icon
Asthma
Buerger’s Disease
Cancer
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Diabetes
Dual Use of Tobacco Products
Gum (Periodontal) Disease
Smoking and Heart Disease, Stroke and Peripheral Artery Disease
HIV
Mental Health Conditions: Depression and Anxiety
Pregnancy
Vision Loss and Blindness
For Specific Groupsplus icon
All Groups (General Public)
People With Disabilities
African American People
American Indian and Alaska Native People
Asian American People
Caregivers
Hispanic and Latino People
People Living with HIV
LGBTQ+ People
Military Service Members and Veterans
People With Mental Health Conditions
Pregnant or Planning to Have a Baby
Partnersplus icon
Faith-Based Organizations
Organizations Serving Military Members and Veteransplus icon
Media Outreach Toolkit
Organizations Serving Public Housing Residents
Campaign Resourcesplus icon
Social Media Content
Videos
Feature
Images and Photos
Print Ads
Motivational Cards
Newsroomplus icon
Matte Articlesplus icon
*Tips* Campaign for the General Public
*Tips* Campaign for African American Communities
*Tips* Campaign for American Indian / Alaska Native Communities
*Tips* Campaign for Asian American Communities
*Tips* Campaign for Faith Communities
*Tips* Campaign for Hispanic/Latino Communities
*Tips* Campaign for LGBTQ+ Community
*Tips* Campaign for People With Mental Health Conditions
*Tips* Campaign for Military Members/Veterans To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address                        
What's this                                     
Submit
 Smoking & Tobacco Use
Smokefree.govexternal icon
National Cancer Instituteexternal icon


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue