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* ®








Brian I.’s Story						Español (Spanish)							Print
																Related Pages
										BrianMeet Brian I.Brian was in good health, working and managing his infection with HIV—the virus that can cause AIDS—when smoking led to health problems that nearly killed him. Smoking is especially dangerous for people who are living with HIV. For Brian, smoking and having HIV led to clogged blood vessels. At age 43, he had a blood clot in his lungs, a stroke, and surgery on an artery in his neck.
Brian had already beat tough health problems—including being very sick with AIDS—but he had not quit smoking. “It took a stroke for me to actually stop smoking,” said Brian. For months after the stroke, Brian had trouble speaking and reading. He couldn’t work or even dress himself. Today, his right hand is still weak, so he can no longer work as a waiter or teach pottery classes. Brian hopes his story will inspire other people to quit smoking before it’s too late. “Smoking is something that you do have control over. You can stop. And it’s worth your life to stop smoking.”On This Page
			Brian I.'s VideosBrian I.'s BiographyMore About Brian I.Additional Resources
		
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 iconBrian I.’s VideosBrian I.’s StoryLow Resolution Video
Smoking is especially dangerous for people who are living with HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS. Brian learned that lesson the hard way, when he had a stroke—a brain attack—at age 43. In this video, Brian talks about surviving HIV-related medical problems—then nearly losing his life because of smoking.Brian I.’s Stroke and Slow RecoveryLow Resolution Video
Brian never imagined he could have a stroke at age 43. He was in good health. But smoking, combined with having HIV, caused a stroke when he was doing what he loved most—working at the potter’s wheel. In this video, Brian talks about the day of his stroke and his efforts to recover.On This Page
			Brian I.'s VideosBrian I.'s BiographyMore About Brian I.Additional Resources
		
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 playlistTop of PageBrian I.’s Biography
On New Year’s Day in 2013, Brian started the year with a burst of creativity at a California pottery studio where he was a master teacher. He took a cigarette break outside and when he came back, his right hand wouldn’t work. He couldn’t hold a pen, a glass, or a piece of clay. He struggled to speak. At just 43 years old, Brian was having a stroke. His brain was not getting enough blood and oxygen, and he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. He quit smoking that day.
Brian
Brian had already beat tough health problems—including being very sick with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)—but he had not quit smoking. Cigarettes are especially dangerous for people who are living with HIV, the virus that can cause AIDS. For Brian, smoking and having HIV led to clogged blood vessels. Inside his arteries, a sticky plaque was building up. At first, Brian had no symptoms. Then a few months before his stroke, Brian had a blood clot in his lungs. Doctors treated Brian and urged him to quit smoking.
“I wanted to quit from the beginning, but it was an addiction and I couldn’t stop,” he said. “It took a stroke for me to actually stop smoking.”
Like many smokers, Brian was a teenager when he picked up his first cigarette. Smoking seemed daring to him—a symbol of freedom and independence. When Brian was 20, he started living openly as a gay man and discovered that smoking was common in LGBT communities, even on the dance floor at clubs. By then, Brian smoked a pack a day, and cigarettes had nothing to do with freedom. His addiction to cigarettes now controlled him, and he wanted to stop smoking. Through the years, he tried to quit many times.
On the day of his stroke, Brian was quickly taken to the hospital and had surgery to clean out a clogged artery in his neck. Regaining use of his body and mind has been a long process that’s still not done. At first, he couldn’t dress himself, brush his teeth, or cook. Speaking and reading were difficult.
Today, Brian can manage buttons and shoelaces, as long as he goes slowly. But his right hand is still weak and numb, so he can no longer work as a waiter. After many years as an expert potter, his artistry now looks more like the work of a beginner. Brian’s HIV is under control, as it has been for a long time, but he’s not sure when or if he’ll fully recover from his stroke.
Brian hopes his story will inspire other people to quit smoking before it’s too late. “Having HIV is a part of your life forever,” he says. “Smoking is something that you do have control over. You can stop. And it’s worth your life to stop smoking.”
Top of Page
More About Brian I.Brian's Print Ad - EnglishPrint AdBrian I.’s Tip [PDF – 726KB]Top of PageAdditional ResourcesHIVHIVGet the FactsSee 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
					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