Is switching to e-cig considered stopping smoking

I quit smoking after bout 48 years on Aug 12 2013 after finding out I had emphysema or I guess I should say I switched to vaping. I have been seeing my pulmonologist about every 6 months about my emphysema. He said I had stage 1 emphysema which he said is mild. My oxygen levels are higher and some of the numbers on my pft have improved slightly. No one can prove that vaping or stopping smoking is the reason for the improvement but what can be a very good indications is that "After vaping for 16 months "THERE HAS BEEN NO ADVERSVE EFFECT FROM VAPING - IN FACT WHEN CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I ALSO HAD QUIT SMOKING THERE WAS ACTUALLY A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT IN SOME AREAS!!!!!!! I don't think my doctor endorses my vaping but he's glad I quit smoking. I keep hearing new stories about how vaping juice has all kinds of harmful chemicals as well as nicotine. Well I go to a vape store where I actually watch them mix if for me. It as propolene glycol, vegetable glycerin (all food additives), flavoring and nicotine which you can vary. I started out with a mix containing 24MG per 30 ml and now I'm down to 6 mg per 30 ml. the last time I took my pft I was talking to the therapist giving me the test and I told her I was vaping instead of smoking. She said "Well I don't consider vaping as 'Stopped' smoking. what is the official ruling on that as far as this site goes? Is switching to vaping considered "quit smoking."

New information on e-cigarettes

Anytime I see an article that says "Studies have shown..." or "don't have enough evidence but ..." I wad it up and throw it in the trash. Smoking is as much or more a political issue as well as a health issue. If too many people stop smoking or switch to e-cigs think of the money lost by tobacco companies not to mention the amount of taxes lost. Why do you think there's talk of regulating e-cigarettes? Taxes. The so called tax on tobacco is supposed to discourage people from smoking but they turn around and use that tax money when coming up with a budget. Why would you base a budget on a tax when you "hope" it will go down? when I see that Chantix commercial.. 'thoughts of suicide, vivid dreams" and all the other possible side effects - it take longer to list the possible side effects than the benefits. I would rather smoke....not to mention the price especially since it's a prescription drug - mega bucks. did I mention that the stop smoking drugs is a mega millions industry? I quit smoking Aug 12 2013 after 48 years of smoking when I found out I have stage 1 emphysema. I been vaping since then and according to my pulmonologist there has actually been some slight improvement in some areas. He didn't give any credit to the e-cigs but he didn't discredit it either. As far as he is concerned, it's a lot better than smoking and he has really hasn't tried to discourage me from vaping. Smoke juice contains propoleyne glycol, vegetable glycerin, chemicals you can find in a lot of other foods. It also contains flavoring that you want, sweetner if you want it, and nicotine in varying amounts. I started out with 24 mg and now I'm down to 6 mg. I'll eventually get down to 0 mg of nicotine. Smoking is more than just an addiction to nicotine, it's also the other habits and mannerisms that people have. It's like someone who's always sniffing when they don't need to or biting their fingernails. With vaping the only thing I had to give up is the smoking, not all the activities you have to quit or limit to avoid triggering the urge to smoke. I've hardly changed any of the activities that triggerd smoking before. Instead of smoking after eating, drinking a cup of coffee, while driving, nervous or anxious I VAPE. I don't feel like I given up anything. Now I actually prefer vaping to smokine!

Okay! So I have COPD

I was diagnosed with stage 1 emphysema in Aug of 2012 and I finally quick smoking a year later. I see my doctor on a regular basis and over the year or so since I quit smoking the doc says there has been a very slight improvement. I have a good doctor that takes the time to explain things in ordinary language. He said that emphysema is not like cancer where you hear "You only have x amount of months to live" - he said with quiting smoking, proper exercise and other changes I could live a long life. Good luck to you!