I started smoking cigarettes while in middle school,before ecigarettes came along I was up to a pack and half a day, more if the day was very stressful. I started reading, and researching about ecigarettes in the fall of 2011. I decided since i had tried everything else patches, gum, and everything else under the sun I may as well go ahead and try the ecigarette. I smoked cigarettes the half day but by the end of the night i was just using the ecig and totally went off cigarettes! The benefits healthwise has been great for both me and myy husband who was a non smoker. Now i can breath without feeling like i am smothering and he can breathe the air easier also. I sleep better and spend so much less money now! Which is one of the best benefits besides being able to breath easier. I would not trade a single day i have used ecigs to switch back to a reg cig for anything! I just wish they had become available sooner maybe a lot of lives could have been saved by switching to them. The thought of smokers who have not switched over breaks my heart because of the ease and expense of using the ecig could benefit so many people who are struggling with health and money issues like i was before.