An e-cig, short for electronic cigarette, is a device that is operated via battery. It’s designed to emit vaporized solutions, both nicotine and non-nicotine, which the user inhales. This is supposed to provide the user with the same sensation that smoking provides.
E-cigs are also known as vaporizers. Some people call them vape pens or electronic nicotine delivery systems. Regardless of what they are called, they’re all virtually the same thing.
Millions of people use e-cig kits. Ever since hitting the Chinese market over 10 years ago, they have grown in popularity. In 2016 alone, just over three-percent of UK adults were using them.
Now, vaping is popular among many adults. They are also used more by teens in the UK than cigarettes. Between 2011 and 2015, e-cig among high school students rose by over 800 percent.
Also, in 2016, over a million middle and high school students have use electronic cigarettes. Those who were 18-24, over 35 percent of vapers didn’t use cigarettes before using e-cigs. However, there is research that suggests that using e-cigs is dangerous.
E-cigs does help people quit smoking. However, it appears more and more younger people are turning to vaping. They are doing it just to do it.
Quick Facts On E-Cigs
There are a few facts you should know. We’ll go into more details later on. These facts include:
- E-cigs look like real cigarettes, but they don’t burn tobacco
- They are considered aids to help people quit smoking or to reduce smoking
- Research does show that vaping may impact health in a negative way
- Health authorities are considering creating stricter regulations to discourage young people from vaping.
What Are E-Cigs
An e-cig is a device that resembles a real cigarette, a pipe or a vape pen. Many devices are reusable and they have refillable cartridges or replaceable ones. Some e-cigs are designed to be disposed of.
The first smokeless cigarette patent was filed by Herbert Gilbert. This was back in 1963. However, the current e-cig device didn’t appear on the market until 2003.
The e-cig that we know today was invented by a Chinese pharmacist by the name of Hon Lik, who worked for Ruyan. The companied was moving into major markets between 2005 and 2006. Fast forward to today, there is hundreds and hundreds of brands out there.
How Do E-Cigs Work
The devices typically have the following:
- Electronic circuits
- A cartridge or a mouthpiece
- A battery that is rechargeable
- A heating element
When a user sucks on the mouthpiece, the heating element kicks in and the liquid solution starts to heat up. When heated, the person vapes the solution. This is known as vaping.
The liquid solutions can contain no nicotine, but they can also contain a high level of nicotine. There are also solutions that fall in the middle. Different liquids contain different levels of nicotine.
The mouthpiece is attached to a tube, and there is a small cup that holds material that is soaked in the e-liquid. The cartridge can be replaced with another cartridge or it can be refilled. This really depends on the actual device you buy.
The liquid is heated via the atomizer. The battery is what powers the atomizer. In most cases, the battery is lithium-ion and it is rechargeable.
The heater is activated via a sensor. This happens when the user sucks on the device. When it is activated, the indicator light will appear.
The e-liquid is sometimes mixed with nicotine and propylene glycol, as well as flavouring. Glycol is often used in inhalers. As for flavours, there are many to choose from, such as menthol, orange, watermelon and lava flow to name a few.
Some flavours are meant to resemble real cigarettes. Some brands create e-cigs and liquids that mimic specific tobacco brands. This is to make the user feel as if they are smoking, when they are actually just vaping.
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