Hi, My name is Sharon and I began smoking when I was 15. All the ‘cool crowd thought I was ok to hang with when I started smoking. I am now 59 years old. Until 7 months ago I had smoked at least 1 1/2 packs a day and sometimes more. i was fast becoming a chain smoker, ok, I reached that as well. I coughed so much. My chest would gurgle when I laughed. I would have this intense heaviness in my chest when I laid down and it was hard or breathe. I had to have a flu shot every year to prevent any colds because it would always go into bronchitis. I knew I had to stop but not wanting to put my husband through my hatefulness of quitting, the incredible weight gain, I had it set I would die a smoker. Mind you, I have worked out since I was 24 years old consistently and always thought as long as I stayed active, I would beat the odds. Well, that’s not true. It does catch up with you. I actually quit for 6 years until my dad passed away but as you can imagine that was stressful as he and I were very close. He was my adopted dad and I loved him dearly. So I smoked again and have not been able to quit since. That is until 7 months ago. My husband and I walked into a vape store just to check things out. We left there with 2 starter kits and some liquid. We have not had one single cigarette since that day. I started with 28 strength and I am down to 16. Rick is down to 12 in strength. I no longer have that hacking cough. My workouts are so much better, my skin is clearer and brighter since it can get blood flow to it and there’s no more carbon monoxide in me. My breathing has never been easier. For someone who has never smoked, I can see how they would think vapers’ claims to health would be far reaching. But if you’re reading this, if you’re concerned about your health or someone close to you, give vaping a try. At this point, what have you got to lose except your life if you continue to smoke. I wish government would keep their noses out of it though but I suppose if there were smokers who were vaping, there wouldn’t be enough taxes to support the ACA and their biggest contributors, the Big Cig industry would lose their revenue and their control. There would be no more excuses to blame cigarette smoking for the higher insurance rates because illness related would GREATLY be diminished. I haven’t read anyone saying that vaping is 100 % risk free but I have read where it can reduce risks by as much as 90%. All I have to judge by is the way I feel and that after all is the telling story.