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										BrianMeet Brian H.Brian grew up in Chicago and started smoking cigarettes at a young age because he thought it was cool. Although Brian’s parents found out he was smoking at age 12, he continued sneaking cigarettes and was smoking a pack of cigarettes per day by the time he reached 8th grade. Brian’s parents smoked, and he recalled that everyone around him smoked. “Smoking had become ingrained in my mind,” he said.
Brian joined the U.S. Air Force at age 19 and married his sweetheart, Denise, at age 20.  Although he enjoyed his job in the military, he had many responsibilities. As a result, Brian struggled with job stress and often smoked to cope.
One day, while stationed in England, Brian had severe chest pains while walking at work. “I was out of breath and sweating, and the pain got worse,” he said. Suddenly, he collapsed. Brian was having a heart attack at age 35.
Over the years, Brian’s health problems worsened. He had several heart surgeries, including one in which a defibrillator—a device that helps regulate abnormal heartbeats—was put in his chest. At age 46, he was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition that causes airflow blockage and breathing-related problems.
Eventually, Brian’s heart became so damaged that he needed a heart transplant, but as long as he continued to smoke, he wasn’t eligible. He finally quit smoking for good at age 55, and three years later, he received a new heart.
While Brian remained smokefree, the damage caused by years of smoking continued to affect his body. At age 63, Brian was diagnosed with lung cancer and had surgery to remove part of his lung.
Through it all, Denise was by Brian’s side. She even quit her job to care for her husband full-time. “There were a lot of years when I wasn’t very stable, and Denise had to step up and sacrifice a lot,” Brian said.
Brian was determined not to let smoking-related health issues keep him from living fully and doing the things he loved. He kept a positive outlook. “Every day is a gift to spend time with my wife and grandkids,” he said. Brian died in 2022 at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.On This Page
			Brian H.'s VideosBrian H.'s BiographyMore About Brian H.Additional ResourcesMore Related Stories
		
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			Brian H.'s VideosBrian H.'s BiographyMore About Brian H.Additional ResourcesMore Related Stories
		
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Asian Smokers’ Quitlineexternal iconDenise H. and Brian H.: Time TogetherView Transcript Audio Description Low Resolution Video
After more than 45 years of marriage, Denise and Brian H. spent a lot of time together. Much of that time was spent in doctors’ offices and hospitals. Brian had heart disease, lung cancer, and COPD from smoking cigarettes for most of his life. Denise put her career on hold to be his full-time caregiver. Brian died at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.Denise H. and Brian H.: UncertaintyAudio Description Low Resolution Video
Brian had heart disease, lung cancer, and COPD from smoking cigarettes. His wife, Denise, was there with him for every doctor’s appointment, scan, surgery, and recovery. Although Brian was the one who was sick, his illnesses affected both of their lives. Brian died at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.Brian H.: Do You Know?Audio Description Low Resolution Video
Brian started smoking before he was a teenager. He had a heart attack at 35 and had serious health problems for the rest of his life as a result of smoking. In this commercial, Brian says you probably know someone who has had a heart attack, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart bypass surgery, a heart transplant, lung cancer, or part of their lung removed from smoking. He then shares that he has suffered all six. Brian died at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.Brian H.'s TipLow Resolution Video
Brian started smoking cigarettes at age 8. After high school, he joined the U.S. Air Force because he wanted a military career. At 35, still smoking and stationed in England, Brian had a heart attack and spent months in hospital rooms. In this ad from CDC’s *Tips From Former Smokers*® campaign, Brian reveals how he couldn’t serve his country because of his heart disease. Brian died at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.Brian H.: Part of Who I WasLow Resolution Video
By the time Brian was 11 years old, he was already smoking close to a pack of cigarettes a day. In this video from CDC’s *Tips From Former Smokers*® campaign, he talks about how he smoked during his youth, marriage, and throughout his career in the U.S. Air Force. He had a heart attack at age 35 and spent months in hospital rooms. Brian died at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.Brian H.: There’s HopeLow Resolution Video
Brian’s smoking ruined his health and devastated his family. He finally quit smoking for good and was able to get a heart transplant. In this video from CDC’s *Tips From Former Smokers*® campaign, Brian encourages people who smoke to quit. Brian died at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.Persons 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.
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View the *Tips*YouTube video playlistTop of PageBrian H.’s Biography
Brian grew up in Chicago. Both of his parents smoked. Brian started smoking at a young age, and by the time he was in 8th grade, he was smoking a pack of cigarettes each day. “My parents found out that I was smoking when I was 12, but that didn’t stop me,” he said.
Brian
At age 19, Brian joined the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to work at a military base in California. He soon fell in love and married his sweetheart, Denise. Brian had many responsibilities as a master sergeant in the Air Force. As a result, he struggled with job stress and often smoked cigarettes to cope.
One morning, while stationed in England, Brian had chest pains while walking at work. He was out of breath and sweating, and the pain became intense and worsened. Suddenly, he collapsed. Brian was having a heart attack at age 35. The next day, he had an angioplasty—a procedure in which a surgeon uses a balloon-like device to open up a blocked blood vessel. Denise flew overseas immediately to be by her husband’s side.
Brian slowly regained his strength but kept smoking. “The moment I walked out of the hospital, I started sneaking cigarettes again,” he said.
While on leave after his heart attack, Brian had more chest pains. He was admitted to an Air Force hospital in San Antonio, where he was diagnosed with a serious arrhythmia—an irregular heartbeat that can be life threatening. Brian underwent surgery to have a defibrillator put in his chest. A defibrillator is a device that helps regulate abnormal heartbeats.
Denise quit her job to care for Brian full-time. She took over responsibility for everything, from coordinating his medical care to managing their household. “I owe my life to her; literally, not figuratively,” Brain said.
Brian had several surgeries over the years for heart problems related to smoking. Eventually, his doctor told him that his heart was so damaged that he needed a transplant. This would be the beginning of a long and difficult journey for Brian and his family. Brian understood that not everybody who needs a transplant is able to get one, but he hoped that he would be one of the lucky ones.
In 2000, Brian was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition often caused by smoking or secondhand smoke exposure that makes it harder and harder to breathe and can cause death.
In 2007, Brian’s name was added to a national heart transplant waiting list. He and his family were thrilled. But that feeling didn’t last long. One evening, Brian’s doctor called with some bad news. Brian’s name had been removed from the transplant list. The reason? Brian’s lab results had showed that he still smoking. “It was caught in a routine blood test for nicotine exposure,” he said. Brian and Denise were devastated.
Brian had run out of treatment options, and his health was getting worse. He was determined to quit smoking so that he could have a chance to live. In the spring of 2009, Brian joined a smoking cessation class in a military hospital and quit smoking for good. “I did everything they told me to do, and I never looked back,” he said.
Because he remained smokefree, he eventually was put back on the list for a heart transplant. In 2012, Brian received a long-awaited heart transplant. He was hopeful, but he understood the seriousness of the surgery. “They told me that a heart transplant is not a cure,” Brian said.
The years of smoking continued to affect his body. In 2017, at age 63, Brian was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had surgery to remove part of his lung.
Brian was determined not to let smoking-related health issues keep him from living fully and doing the things he loved. He kept a positive outlook. “Every day is a gift to spend time with my wife and grandkids,” he said. Brian died in 2022 at age 68 after suffering from smoking-related health problems for more than 30 years.
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More About Brian H.Denise H.Meet Denise H.Story about Brian H.’s wife.Brian's Print Ad - EnglishPrint AdBrian H.’s Tip [PDF – 645KB]Top of PageAdditional Resourceswoman by windowCancerGet the FactsWoman in wheelchair receiving oxygen from a tank.COPDGet the FactsNurse checking patient's heart beatHeart Disease and StrokeGet the FactsTop of PageMore Related Stories
More Real Stories about heart disease and stroke: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.Tammy W.Meet Tammy W.Tonya M.Meet Tonya M.More Real Stories about cancer:AnnetteMeet Annette S.ChristineMeet Christine B.Elizabeth B.Meet Elizabeth B.JuliaMeet Julia C.Mark A.Meet Mark A.Rose H.Meet Rose H.Shane T.Meet Shane T.Sharon A.Meet Sharon A.Shawn W.Meet Shawn W.TerrieMeet Terrie H.More Real Stories about COPD:BeckyMeet Becky H.Geri M.Meet Geri M.Leonard N.Meet Leonard N.Michael F.Meet Michael F.MichaelMeet Michael P.See all *Tips*Participant StoriesTop of Page
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  July 19, 2023						Source: 	Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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