About eCigs
- What Is An Electronic Cigarette?
- Do Electronic Cigarettes Really Work?
- Benefits of the Electronic Cigarette.
- Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?
- Tips On Using Electronic Cigarettes.
- Care for Your Electronic Cigarette.
What Is An Electronic Cigarette?
What exactly is an electronic cigarette? Here is a description of what it is, how it works and how it can potentially benefit you or a loved one.
The e-cigarette is a battery powered device that looks, feels, tastes, and reacts like a cigarette... but it's not a real cigarette! It even delivers nicotine but without the harmful smoke, tar and chemicals associated with real tobacco smoke. The nicotine is inhaled via a clean odorless vapor.
An electronic cigarette is typically made up of three parts:
1. Atomizer
2. Battery
3. Nicotine Cartridge
NOTE: Some of the newer models combine the atomizer and nicotine cartridges as one disposable unit. The advantage of this is that you always have a fresh atomizer instead of a single atomizer that can become clogged and less efficient over time. A fresh atomizer will insure that you get the highest volume of vapor on each puff, adding to a more satisfactory smoking experience.
Let's go over what each component does:
1. Atomizer. This heats up and vaporizes a mixture of liquid nicotine. The sensation of inhaling this vapor is very similar to real cigarette smoke but without the same health risks. It even has a warm feel to it which adds to a realistic experience. The vapor produces a cloud that looks like smoke but is actually just a mist that quickly disappears.
2. Battery. Nothing too complicated here, just a rechargeable battery that powers the atomizer. It is shaped to look like the body of a real cigarette. The lifespan of batteries varies from model to model. The lifespan depends on the number of mouth puffs. Typically you will get 150 - 400 puffs before having to recharge the battery.
3. Nicotine cartridge. These cartridges are made up of a water/nicotine solution. A single cartridge is typically the equivalent of 1 - 1.5 packs of tobacco cigarettes. Different nicotine strengths are available in high, low, or medium. Most manufacturers also offer a variety of flavors ranging from traditional tobacco flavor, menthol, vanilla, chocolate and fruit flavors.
When you inhale through the E-smoking device, the air flow is detected by a sensor in the automatic models. The sensor activates the atomizer, which pulls tiny droplets of the liquid into the flowing air and vaporizes the nicotine. The propylene glycol in the liquid makes the vapor that resembles normal cigarette smoke. The microprocessor also activates a colored LED (often orange) at the tip to simulate real smoking. And it serves another function, to let you know when it needs recharging.
The electronic cigarette is surprisingly similar to the real thing but without the same health risks. There is no lingering offensive odor. It's also a lot less expensive than tobacco cigarettes. This combined with the fact that you can use it anywhere makes e-smoking a sensible and healthier alternative, one worth considering either for yourself or a loved one.
When I first heard about the electronic cigarette my first reaction was that this was a novelty item that wasn't to be taken seriously. But upon closer inspection I realized that this is an ingenious invention that has the potential to revolutionize the way people smoke forever.
Do Electronic Cigarettes Really Work?
We get asked this question a lot. And for very good reason. You might wonder how and if electronic cigarettes will really do all that is claimed about them. After all, there are a lot of products on the market that are less than what they claim to be.
We want to be very clear up front... Yes, Electronic Cigarettes Work!
How do they work, and what do they actually accomplish? They work in many ways.
Many people have reported that they have satisfied their need for nicotine and the hand to mouth habit that they had gotten from cigarette use over so many years. Electronic cigarettes have worked as a fantastic alternative to tobacco cigarettes and as such, many people (ourselves, our customers, and reports we read on internet forums and testimonials on Youtube, etc.) say that they have either totally replace cigarettes with them, or have seriously cut down on the use of tobacco because of them.
They work in that you can get a nice satisfying draw (in different flavors!) which produces vapor that appears as smoke. There is an apparent psychological benefit in seeing the vapor produced, and feeling the introduction of that vapor into your system and then releasing it, much as a cigarette.
They work in that they actually are smoke free. So you get no complaints of "second hand smoke". Talk about an exciting benefit!
They work by not stinking up your clothing, hair, or the inside of your car or home. There is no tar (the yellowish substance that collects on your walls).
They work by keeping your home and car ash free and cigarette butt free. You know how smelly a full ashtray is? You won't have that when you switch to ecigs!
Do they work for everybody?
Well as to most of the things outlined in this article, yes. As to being a full replacement for tobacco cigarettes, your success may vary from others. However, those who have made the switch also tend to report that other alternatives did not work for them whereas the electronic cigarette DID.
You will ultimately be the person to decide if they work for you, but we feel that you will be like so many others who feel that the electronic cigarette is almost like a miracle! Give it a try. In fact, if you come by our store, you can try it before you buy it, just to be sure.
Benefits of the Electronic Cigarette
Electronic smoking is quickly rising in popularity and may change the way people smoke forever. Are you wondering if this is something that would benefit you or a loved one? Let's examine some of the many benefits of the electronic cigarette as a sensible and healthier alternative to "real" smoking.
1. Health. The most dangerous aspect of smoking is the actual smoke and the associated tar and thousands of chemicals that are inhaled into the lungs. With an e-cigarette nothing is actually lit, so there is no smoke, tar nor the thousands of chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes. The nicotine is vaporized into a mist that looks and feels like smoke, but isn't smoke. This is clearly a much healthier alternative.
2. Cost. The cost of the nicotine cartridges is where you really save a lot of money. An electronic cigarette nicotine cartridge is about the equivalent of 1 - 1.5 packs of tobacco cigarettes. A package of 5 cartridges will cost you around $15. This comes out to be the equivalent of about $2 per pack... this is a huge savings!
3. Convenience. You can "smoke" an e-cigarette anywhere because there is no smoke being emitted. You may get some funny looks if you suddenly start "vaping" in a restaurant or bar so you may want to get permission from management first. But technically you can do this in any public area because there is no second-hand smoke to be concerned with.
4. Smell. There is no lingering odor so no more worrying about stinky breath, hair, clothes, hands, etc. You won't be offending anyone with second hand smoke and no one can complain about the smell.
5. Eliminate stinky ashtrays! Besides the fact that smelly clothes, hair, breath, etc., are nasty by-products of smoking cigarettes, there's the ashtrays that fill up and have to be emptied. Ashtrays are just plain gross. You will not need any more ashtrays with electronic cigarettes. Say goodbye to them forever!
6. Peace of mind. You will have the peace of mind knowing that you're choosing a healthier alternative. True, you're still absorbing nicotine but at least you're avoiding the the incredibly dangerous smoke and 4,000 toxic chemicals associated with tobacco cigarettes.
A lot of people wonder if electronic smoking can help a person quit smoking altogether. There have not been enough clinical studies to prove this one way or another so this is still a debatable subject. However, other nicotine delivery alternatives like gum, patches, etc., are commonly used as a part of many stop-smoking approaches. Common sense would suggest that the electronic cigarette has the potential to do the same.
Are Electronic Cigarettes Safe?
Electronic cigarettes are being marketed as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco. But just how safe are e-cigarettes? Are there any health risks? Let's examine electric smoking and compare it to "real" smoking so you can make an intelligent decision if this may be a wise smoking alternative for you.
The most harmful aspect of smoking cigarettes is the 4,000 toxic chemicals that are inhaled when you burn tobacco. It's the actual smoke that is causing lung cancer and respiratory disease, not the nicotine. With electronic smoking none of these 4,000 toxic chemicals are produced because there is no smoke... nothing is actually burning. No smoke means no tar, carbon monoxide, etc.
But what about the nicotine? E-cigarettes still deliver nicotine. How dangerous is that? More independent studies on the effects of nicotine by itself need to be done. Right now the health risks are still inconclusive. Nevertheless, it's obvious that a method of delivering nicotine that doesn't involve real smoke is going to be much safer than burning tobacco.
Are electronic cigarettes totally safe? When you compare it to "real" smoking there really is no comparison. One thing we know for sure is that tobacco smoking is incredibly dangerous, expensive and inconvenient. E-cigarettes give smokers an alternative that appears to be much safer and will probably save countless lives. Given a choice between the two? We think it's a no brainer.
Tips On Using Electronic Cigarettes
Your new electronic cigarette is not a complicated device but with anything new there is always going to be a bit of a learning curve. Here are some tips on the best way to maximize your electronic smoking experience so you can save both time and money.
Tips for new electronic smokers:
1. Get extra batteries and atomizers. These are the two things that are most likely to need replacing. A quick word of caution: It's a good idea to make sure you like your particular electronic cigarette model first before buying all the extras. Once you know for sure you're satisfied with it, get the extra hardware... you'll definitely get good use out of them!
2. Get a car charger and a USB passthrough. These will allow you to "vape" while driving or at your computer without the need to drain your batteries. Again, make sure you're satisfied with your model before buying the extras.
3. Start off with a lower nicotine dose. Electronic cigarette cartridges typically come in several different doses: High, medium, low and none. When you first get your e-cigarette you're going to want to be experimenting with it a lot, trying new flavors, etc. If you're not careful you'll end up absorbing more nicotine than you're used to... and possibly increasing your addiction to it. Start off low and increase your dose after the novelty wears off if you feel like it.
4. Take long, slow puffs. A long, slow, steady puff will give you the most vapor volume. Short, hard puffs will tend to flood the atomizer causing reduced vapor production (you may even get liquid in your mouth).
5. Switch atomizers frequently. Atomizers tend to get clogged easily and when this happens the vapor volume is greatly reduced. Switch out your atomizer daily for best performance and be sure to clean them frequently. (This tip only applies to three-part ecigs where the atomizer is a separate unit. Some newer two-piece models have a built in atomizer in each individual cartridge).
Follow these tips and you will have a head start on being able to fully enjoy your new electronic cigarette as soon as possible. If you're unsure about something be sure to check out some of the ecigarette forums online. These can be an excellent resource for answering nearly any question you can think of.
Congratulations on choosing a healthier smoking alternative... happy vaping!
Care for Your Electronic Cigarette
How to care for your ecig.
1. Before you charge your batteries, make sure to wipe the threads clean with a clean dry cloth before screwing them into the charger.
2. Time your chargings so that they don't last longer than 2 hours, if possible.
3. Wipe the inside threads of your vaporizers before putting on a newly charged battery.
4. Don't carry your cell phone and your ecig in the same pocket. Cell phones have strong magnetic batteries that will drain your ecig battery.