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








Elizabeth B.’s Story						Español (Spanish)							Print
																Related Pages
										Elizabeth B. and Stephen B.Meet Elizabeth B.Elizabeth, age 62, started smoking menthol cigarettes at the age of 18 because her friends and co-workers smoked. Within a year, Elizabeth was smoking about a pack and a half a day. She smoked at home and work and participated in activities where she could smoke. “Everything revolved around the ability to smoke,” she said. “I was a prisoner to my addiction.”
When Elizabeth was 42 years old, she had a stroke. Doctors advised her to quit smoking immediately, but Elizabeth continued to struggle with nicotine addiction for another 10 years. She tried to quit multiple times using various strategies. Then, when she was 52, something clicked. She set a quit date, threw away her ashtrays, changed routines connected to smoking, and used nicotine patches. Using a combination of strategies, Elizabeth finally quit smoking for good.
Two weeks later, Elizabeth started dating her future husband, Stephen. The pair enjoyed taking long walks together, until Elizabeth started experiencing numbness in her feet and cramping in her calves. She was diagnosed with smoking-related peripheral artery disease (PAD), a condition in which her arteries had narrowed and blocked the flow of blood to her legs. Just four months after she and Stephen married, Elizabeth had to have major surgery to restore blood flow to her legs.
In more recent years, Elizabeth has developed kidney cancer. But she feels that PAD is her biggest challenge to everyday living. She can no longer take the stairs. Walking is painful but critical to saving her legs from amputation, so she and Stephen make taking walks a daily priority.
Elizabeth shares her personal experience with smoking-related diseases and provides support to others who are struggling with PAD. “If I had never smoked that first cigarette, I may not have lit the fuse for PAD,” she said. “My goal is to help other young people never start smoking.On This Page
			Elizabeth B.'s VideosElizabeth B.'s BiographyMore About Elizabeth B.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 iconElizabeth B.’s VideosElizabeth B.: No FunAudio Description Low Resolution Video
People told Elizabeth B. she could die if she continued smoking menthol cigarettes. She thought, “at least I’ll have fun.” In this ad, Elizabeth shares that living with smoking-related diseases is no fun at all.Elizabeth B. and Stephen B.: Marriage TipAudio Description Low Resolution Video
Elizabeth B. was 52 and a newlywed when she learned she had smoking-related peripheral artery disease (PAD). She had major surgery to restore blood flow to her legs. Elizabeth offered to end her marriage to her husband, Stephen. She felt he did not sign up for taking care of her full-time. In this ad, Elizabeth shares how Stephen supports her every day.Elizabeth B. and Stephen B.: Lasting ConsequencesAudio Description Low Resolution Video
Elizabeth B. had numbness in her feet and cramping in her calf that kept getting worse. She learned from her doctor that she had smoking-related peripheral artery disease (PAD). Elizabeth also developed kidney cancer. In this video, Elizabeth and her husband Stephen share how Elizabeth's health impacts their lives.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
			Elizabeth B.'s VideosElizabeth B.'s BiographyMore About Elizabeth B.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 PageElizabeth B.’s Biography
Elizabeth, age 62, grew up in Texas and started smoking menthol cigarettes at the age of 18. Her friends all smoked and she felt peer pressure to smoke too. “I thought it made me look classy,” she said.
Elizabeth B.
Within a year, Elizabeth was smoking about a pack and a half of cigarettes every day. She didn’t think about the harmful health effects of smoking. She believed the commonly held myth that smoking menthol cigarettes was somehow less harmful than smoking non-menthol cigarettes. Later, she learned the truth: menthol cigarettes are just as dangerous as regular cigarettes.
After high school, Elizabeth worked as a nurse’s aide in a hospital. “Everyone smoked,” she remembered. “The doctors, the nurses, even the patients were smoking in the hospital.” She thought to herself, if the doctors are smoking, how bad could cigarettes be?
Elizabeth smoked at home and at work. She enjoyed any outing or activity where she could smoke. “Everything revolved around the ability to smoke,” she said. “I was a prisoner to my addiction.”
When Elizabeth was 42 years old, she had a stroke while at work. She was trying to type when she realized that she couldn’t raise her arms. Her face started drooping and her words came out jumbled. In the hospital, Elizabeth repeatedly asked the nurses to let her go outside for a cigarette.
Doctors warned Elizabeth that continuing to smoke would increase her risk of having another stroke, and they advised her to quit smoking immediately. But her struggle with nicotine addiction continued for another 10 years. She tried to quit multiple times using various strategies. Then, when she was 52, something clicked. She read websites and brochures about how to quit and followed their advice: she set a quit date, threw away her ashtrays, changed routines connected to smoking, and used nicotine patches. Using a combination of those strategies, Elizabeth finally quit for good.
Two weeks later, Elizabeth went on her first date with her future husband, Stephen. The pair enjoyed taking long walks together. Then Elizabeth started experiencing numbness in her feet and cramping in her calves. The pain kept getting worse. When she could no longer walk the short distance to her mailbox, Elizabeth went to the doctor. Years of smoking had caused Elizabeth’s arteries to narrow and block the flow of blood from her heart to her legs, a condition known as peripheral artery disease (PAD). She learned that smoking increases the risk of PAD and can make PAD symptoms worse.
Just four months after she and Stephen married, Elizabeth had major surgery to restore blood flow to her legs. The surgeon asked if the newlyweds had wills and other end-of-life documents. “The hardest part was, I felt like Stephen didn’t sign up for this,” Elizabeth recalled. “I actually asked him if he wanted to have our marriage annulled.”
In more recent years, Elizabeth has developed kidney cancer. But she feels that PAD is her biggest challenge to everyday living. She can no longer take the stairs. Before going to a concert or baseball game, she reviews a map of the venue to make sure she can get around safely. Although painful and tiring, walking is critical to saving her legs from amputation, so she and Stephen try to walk at least a mile or two every day. When Elizabeth feels like she can’t do it, Stephen is there to encourage her.
Today, Elizabeth devotes her time to building awareness for PAD. She shares her personal experience with smoking-related diseases and provides support to others who are struggling with PAD. “If I had never smoked that first cigarette, I may not have lit the fuse for PAD,” Elizabeth said. “My goal is to help other young people never start smoking.”
Top of Page
More About Elizabeth B.Elizabeth B., 62, Texas - I had never heard of peripheral artery disease until I got it from smoking.Print AdElizabeth B.’s Tip [PDF – 3.2MB]Stephen B. and Elizabeth B.Meet Stephen B.Top of PageAdditional Resourcesmenthol cigarettesMenthol CigarettesGet the Facts1-800-QUIT-NOW5 Ways Quitlines Help YOU SucceedQuitlines provide free coaching--over the phone--to help quit smoking.woman holding phonequitSTART appThe quitSTART app is a free smartphone app that helps you quit smoking with tailored tips and inspiration.Nurse checking patient's heart beatHeart Disease and StrokeGet the FactsCancer patient at the hospitalCancerGet the FactsMore Related Stories
More Real Stories about cancer:AnnetteMeet Annette S.BrianMeet Brian H.ChristineMeet Christine 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 heart disease / stroke:BrianMeet Brian H.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.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