The electronic cigarette (AKA e-cigarette, e-cig and smokeless cigarette) has been around for quite some time yet has just recently become an extremely popular topic on social networks and forums. Designed to administer a vaporized dose of nicotine, they look and feel like a traditional cigarette. Let's take a look at its components and how they work.
Originally designed as a safer alternative to smoking, the e-cigarettes popularity is derived from its ability to accurately imitate smoking a tobacco cigarette. It does this by incorporating a battery, atomizer and e-liquid reservoir (e-liquid is the nicotine containing solution). When the user inhales, the battery activates the atomizer which in turn vaporizes a tiny amount of e-liquid. The vapor produced contains nothing but atomized water and nicotine thus exposes the user to none of the carcinogens of tobacco smoking.
E-cigarette users claim they taste and feel just like inhaling from a tobacco cigarette. This, combined with their resemblance to a traditional cigarette, makes them an easy transition for most smokers. Just like nicotine patches, you can purchase e-liquid in various strengths allowing smokers to slowly taper their nicotine does down eventually stopping nicotine all together.
When shopping for an e-cigarette, you'll likely notice none of them are advertised as "smoking cessation devices" or as "being healthier than cigarettes". This is because the FDA is currently evaluating their efficacy and accuracy of such claims. Originally, the FDA had released a report supposedly finding e-cigarettes a health hazard. This report has since been found to be inaccurate and further studies are now being conducted.