I smoked for a few years while in college, although it took several days to go through a pack. DH had smoked since HS. We both quit shortly after we got married and I'm so glad I did. That was 40+ years ago. I have COPD now, not from smoking, but probably from the chemicals I've worked around for 30 yrs. I'm sure I would have developed it much sooner had I kept smoking....or lung cancer, or throat cancer, or stroke, or heart attack....... COPD is not curable and I will eventually be on oxygen if something else doesn't get me first. Mine is mild right now and I hope it stays that way for a long while!