E Cigarette|Electronic Cigarette.
An e cigarette or electronic cigarette is an electric cigarette, similar in shape to the traditional tobacco cigarette, which attempts to simulate tobacco smoking in order to greatly reduce the adverse effects of smoking on the smoker and those around him. It is also referred to as e cig, in short.
It is non inflammable and works on the micro electronic technology to make smoking a smokeless experience. It seems to give credence to the statement that if you have to smoke a cigarette, electronic cigarette is the cigarette of choice.
E Cig.
The electric cigarette or the electronic cigarette was invented by a Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik in as late as 2003. It was released in the market in 2004 and exports started in 2005.
It is important to note that the e cigarette or e cig does help you to stop smoking cigarettes but it is not a smoking cessation aid. It is not considered as a NRT product. It offers an alternative method of nicotine delivery with some advantages which are explained below. It is also being referred to as an electrictronic cigarette or smokeless cigarette.
Electrictronic Cigarette|Electronic cigarette.
Components.
1. Mouthpiece.
The mouth piece of the electronic cigarette is a container made of disposable plastic which is open at both ends. It contains a replaceable cartridge which houses a sponge like substance saturated with liquid which is to be vaporized. The main contents of this liquid are nicotine and propylene glycol. It is also referred to as nicotine liquid or e liquid or e juice.
The purpose of propylene glycol is to give the inhaled air the flavor and temperature of the cigarette smoke. The nicotine liquid is housed in the cartridge. The mouthpiece allows the vapor that is produced, to flow past the liquid container to the user’s mouth. When the liquid gets depleted, the cartridge can either be refilled or it can be replaced with a new pre filled cartridge. Each cartridge lasts for about 200 puffs. Cartridges of liquid are also available with a lesser nicotine content or no nicotine contents to suit the requirements of the user.
2. Atomizer.
The atomizer is a heating element which vaporizes the nicotine liquid. The atomizer contains filaments which burn out with use, requiring replacement and recurring expense. Some e cigarettes provide with replaceable atomizers.
3. The Battery.
The battery is the largest component of the e cigarette. It usually is a lithium-ion rechargeable battery. The battery unit contains a microprocessor which is an electronic airflow sensor. Various type of recharging kits are available.
How the electronic cigarette works.
When air flows through the e cigarette due to inhalation, it triggers the microprocessor to activate the atomizer to release tiny droplets of the nicotine liquid into the inhaled air flow. This results in a vapor mist which is inhaled by the smoker. Many electronic cigarette manufacturers use different flavors to resemble those of popular brands such as Marlborough, Bensons, etc.
Picture of electronic cigarette. (Click on picture to enlarge).
What is E Smoke.
E smoke is the inhaled vapor from the electronic cigarette which consists of vaporized nicotine, water vapor and flavor. Unlike the tobacco cigarette, the e cigarette does not burn, but vaporizes the nicotine liquid which is inhaled by the smoker. Except for nicotine, all the other harmful components of tobacco smoke are absent in the e smoke. (explained below). You could literally call e smoke as the smoke without fire.
Advantages of Electronic Cigarette over the traditional tobacco cigarette.
- As the electronic cigarette does not contain tobacco, the inhaled smoke does not contain the harmful components present in tobacco smoke. The e cigarette smoke does not contain tar, carbon monoxide and such mutagenic and carcinogenic substances.
- Besides the dangers of second hand smoking are also eliminated making it safe for people around you when you smoke.
- It has been found that smoking electronic cigarettes reduced the health problems caused by conventional smoking such as cough, reduced exercise ability and reduced taste of smell and taste.
- However warning labels are used because of the nicotine content.
Disadvantages, Dangers and Risks of Electronic Cigarettes.
Though most of the dangerous effects of smoking tobacco are eliminated in e cigs, dangers of nicotine still remain. They are explained below.
- Nicotine is highly addictive.
- Nicotine causes rise in heart rate and blood pressure.
- Nicotine causes cholesterol plaques to be deposited on the inner walls of the arteries (Atherosclerosis), which can cause restrictive blood flow to the heart resulting in ischemic heart diseases such as heart attack and angina.
- Nicotine causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels) which results in reduced blood flow to the extremities. This can cause gout and gangrene.
- Nicotine is poisonous and reach of the nicotine liquid to children and pets can be fatal.
Summary.
Electric cigarettes or Electronic cigarettes or e cigarettes are not without side effects due to their nicotine content. Ideally giving up smoking totally should be the practice of choice.
But, if you have to smoke a cigarette, electronic cigarette should be given a try due to its advantages over the traditional tobacco cigarette. Statistics do tell us that millions of smokers worldwide have switched over to electronic cigarettes.
However legality of e cigs varies from country to country and Governments and the respective FDAs are still yet to take decision on the classification of the e cig as a tobacco product or a nicotine based drug delivery system.
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