For centuries, people have enjoyed the pleasures of smoking. Smoking tobacco has been one of the markers of a wealthy individual with a high social standing. In the past decades, cigarettes have become a fad and have been an icon of being fashionable and in with the trends. However, with the recent discoveries of how harmful it is to health, many are trying to quit but to no avail; until another promising solution surfaced: the e-cigarette.

What is an E-Cigarette?

The e-cigarette, also known as an electronic cigarette, is a device used as a substitute for real cigarettes. It is powered by a battery and provides the user doses of nicotine vapor, mimicking the flavor and physical sensation that real smoking gives to the smoker. Although the e-cig cannot provide an exact mimic of the sensation that real smoking does, it is certainly good enough – it can definitely wean one off the habit, and the smoker eventually gets rid of it.

What Started It All?

For many years, people sought different alternatives to quit smoking which included nicotine patches, gums, chewing on twigs, sticks, or lollipops (instead of cigarettes), and even hypnosis. These proved to be effective for some, but not for the majority. So in 2003, a quitting smoking solution was invented by Hon Lik. This medical practitioner of Chinese origin came up with the idea and introduced it to the public the year after. The product was first sold in China, as the company was a local Chinese-based enterprise. Later, the producer expanded its target market and sold offshore.

Is It Safe and Really Working?

Generally, the e-cig has proven to be a great way for chain smokers to stop smoking. Individuals who smoked around 60 sticks a day got off the habit thanks to this device. However, in some countries, electronic cigarettes are not well accepted since there is no official word that they are totally safe to use. Some people may experience side effects but these are usually due to the dosage of the nicotine vapor solution. The liquid ingredient used in the vapor solution can be in the form of nicotine or non-nicotine concentrations, depending on what the user prefers. With nicotine concentrations, there are those dissolved in propylene glycol and glycerin (vegetable) so that persons with sensitivities have more options. Although there hasn’t been enough evidence on its full safety, no reports and findings on its being dangerous were published either.

For this combination of reasons, the electronic cigarette has become quite a popular device these days, trendy among chain smokers who are finding ways to kick the habit. It seems that necessity is indeed the mother of invention.