Enterprise Podcast Network

We’ve all heard of e-readers, and we’ve all been sending emails for the better part of two decades now, but what about e-cigarettes? We know (or can at least figure out) that it stands for “electronic cigarette.” But they’re still pretty new and are considered a niche product in some ways. That may be changing, though, and one reason is because more and more people are informing themselves about e-cigarettes and how they work. There’s no better time than the present to start doing some investigating of your own.

Like smoking, but not

E-cigarettes use a battery, whereas normal cigarettes require a match or lighter. But when someone who is a smoker goes outside to smoke, you can still smell ash when they’ve finished their cigarette and come back inside to hang out with the non-smokers. It’s not a great smell, by any means. It’s like a big flashing sign that says, “SMOKER HERE.” One appealing thing about e-cigarettes is that there’s no ashy residue to worry about after the fact. You can smoke in your house with other people around, and they’ll probably just smell something minty or fruity, at least if you’re using a minty or fruity flavor of E liquid. That’s the stuff that goes inside the e-cigarette. It burns up and is converted to a mist or vapor. So someone who is trying to quit smoking nicotine cigarettes can switch to an e-cigarette and get the feel of a cigarette in a somewhat healthier format. E-liquid can have nicotine, but it doesn’t have to include it. There may be some people who start by smoking e-liquid with nicotine, then get to a point where they don’t need it anymore and can just start looking for flavors that interest them. The liquid usually contains propylene glycol and one or more various flavors. And there are all sorts of flavors on the market right now. If you want a chocolate-flavored e-cigarette, then you can probably find it. There’s even mocha and caramel-flavored stuff if you want to feel like you’re smoking at a coffee shop.

Risk vs. benefit

Smokers can try patches and pills and all sorts of measures in an attempt to stop smoking, but many people find e-cigarettes to be the best way to stop. There’s even an LED on the device that looks kind of like a flame. Available research indicates that smoking an e-cig (more commonly known as “vaping”) is a safer alternative to traditional nicotine cigarettes, but we’re still waiting on a lot of research, like what the long-term effects of vaping are. Of course, it’s best to stop using nicotine products as soon as possible, but if you’re going to use them, buying an e-cig is generally a better idea than buying a pack of cigarettes at your local corner store. There’s not a lot of regulation of e-cigs right now, though there are signs that could be changing. Some places that ban smoking cigarettes have decided to ban vaping as well. Keep an eye on any new developments, and do your best to find quality products from reputable businesses.