South Africa

I used to smoke cigarettes every day, but I chose progress over perfection and reduced, one healthier breath at a time.

My name is Eugene van Dyk. I started smoking when I was 15 years old. Nobody pressured me into it. In fact, my first cigarette was completely my own decision. I kept it a secret from my friends and family for at least a year before anyone knew I smoked. Over time, smoking became a major part of my life. I typically smoked around 20 cigarettes a day. Many days it was closer to 30, and at parties I could easily smoke 40 cigarettes in a single day. The effects on my health happened so gradually that I hardly noticed them. I developed a persistent cough. At first it was only in the mornings. Later it became a constant need to clear my throat. The habit became so normal that I wasn't even aware I was doing it anymore. After smoking for 17 years, I bought my first vape. My intention was not to quit smoking. I actually told myself that I enjoyed smoking too much and would never stop. The vape was simply meant to be something I could use in addition to cigarettes. Then something unexpected happened. About a week later, I realized I hadn't had a cigarette since buying the vape. I hadn't planned it. It just happened naturally. Within a couple of weeks, I noticed I was snoring less. The constant cough started improving. The urge to clear my throat became less frequent. I can't tell you exactly how long it took for those symptoms to disappear completely, but today, 12 years later, they are gone. I have now been smoke-free for more than 12 years and vape exclusively. Today I am fitter than I have been at any other stage of my life. While nobody can know exactly what would have happened had I continued smoking, I genuinely believe that switching from cigarettes to vaping has had a significant positive impact on my health and has likely extended my life. What concerns me is that many smokers never give vaping a chance because they believe it is the same as smoking. My own experience has been very different. For me, vaping achieved something that I never intended or expected: it replaced a 17-year cigarette habit that I once believed I would carry for the rest of my life.