Ethan B.’s Story
Ethan, age 59, smoked his first cigarette at age 10. He started smoking menthol cigarettes regularly when he joined the Army at age 18. Everyone around him was smoking, including his friends, and he wanted to fit in. “I wanted to look cool and be cool,” he said, remembering the cigarette ads he used to see as a child. “All the billboards said it was cool.”
Ethan had a smoking-related stroke at age 56, and then a second stroke a year later. The strokes damaged his memory and communication skills. On good days, he might occasionally lose his train of thought. On bad days, he feels confused and can barely finish a sentence.
Once a strong, athletic basketball player, Ethan now tires out easily. Losing the ability to function the way he used to fills Ethan with sadness. “Sometimes I’ll leave the house to hang out with friends, and even though we’re just sitting there, I get tired after 10 minutes and want to go home,” he said.
In 2020, Ethan finally quit smoking for good. He says he feels better and has more energy. He knows now that the advertisements he saw growing up, making him think that smoking was cool, were a lie. Ethan wants to share his story to help other people quit smoking and protect their health.
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Ethan B.’s Biography
Ethan, age 59, smoked his first cigarette at age 10. He started smoking menthol cigarettes regularly when he joined the Army at age 18. He wanted to fit in with his friends, a group of strong, athletic guys who smoked at every opportunity. “I wanted to look cool and be cool,” he said, remembering the cigarette ads he used to see as a child. “All the billboards said it was cool.”
Ethan smoked about a pack of cigarettes a day. In his 30s, Ethan started losing teeth and experiencing joint pain, headaches, and depression. Ethan stopped smoking for a while, but eventually started again.
At the age of 56, Ethan suffered a stroke. A second stroke followed a year later. The strokes damaged his memory and can make it hard for him to communicate. Sometimes he forgets how to use everyday things, like a microwave. He can forget what he is talking about mid-conversation, even mid-sentence.
Once a strong, athletic basketball player, Ethan now tires out easily. He struggles to find enough energy to take out the trash, let alone run down a basketball court. Even playing his keyboard wipes him out.
Losing the ability to function the way he used to filled Ethan with sadness. “Sometimes I would leave the house to hang out with friends, and even though we were just sitting there, I got tired after 10 minutes and wanted to go home,” he said.
In 2020, Ethan finally quit smoking for good. His approach was to cut back on the number of cigarettes he smoked each day until he was no longer smoking at all. Whenever he felt the urge to smoke a cigarette, he would redirect himself to do something else, like drinking a glass of water, instead.
Ethan believes quitting smoking is responsible for dramatic improvements in his life. He feels his worst days are not as bad or as frequent as they were when he was smoking. His overall mood and energy levels are better. He knows now that the advertisements he saw growing up, making him think that smoking was cool, were a lie. Ethan wants to share his story to help others understand the true cost of smoking cigarettes.
