I had my first acute exacerbation of emphysema a few months before I finally quit smoking. Needed breathing treatments, inhalers, steroids. I'm 51, and have been smoking 35 years. I thought I was on my way to being on oxygen! My resting heart rate was 115, and my resting oxygen saturations were 91%. Now, 10 months after quitting the cigarettes, and using the ecigs only, my resting heart rate is 76, my oxygen saturations are 99% and I haven't had any trouble breathing in 6+ months. I love that! I love that I don't stink like cigarettes anymore! I love everything about ecigs!