Cigarette Alternative

As with any new product, our concern must be first on the electronic cigarette safety. The FDA has been working full steam on looking for anything that would compromise electronic cigarette safety.

Apparently the FDA found small traces of diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze, in one sample of electronic cigarette solution they analyzed. They are also concerned that teenagers will get addicted to electronic smoking.

But how serious are these issues actually from the angle of electronic cigarette safety? Are e-cigarettes harmful devices that should be banned? Let’s get the facts straight and put all this information into perspective.

Diethylene glycol may be a toxic ingredient but exactly how toxic is it?

1. It is has one-tenth the toxicity of aspirin.

2. It has one-fortieth the toxicity of nicotine (the primary ingredient in electronic cigarette vapor).

Diethylene glycol is also found in everyday consumable products like:

- Toothpaste

- Mouthwash

- Cough syrup

- Wine

- Dog food

- And many others…

You have to wonder why the FDA when researching on the electronic cigarette safety is focusing so much on the minute traces of diethylene glycol found in one sample when clearly this is a very common ingredient many of us are ingesting regularly.

That’s not to say that diethylene glycol is totally harmless and we shouldn’t have any concerns about it. But when the FDA starts focusing on words like ‘diethylene glycol’ and ‘anti-freeze’ it sure does sound scary. However, a little bit of education on the facts puts it back in perspective doesn’t it? By the way, water is another ingredient found in anti-freeze!

The FDA tends to give the impression that they have regulatory control over nicotine. That is not always the case. They regulate smoking cessation products and claims. That’s why electronic cigarettes are marketed as a smoking alternative and not as a means to quit smoking.

Another "concern" expressed by the FDA is that electronic cigarettes target underage kids. Here is an FDA quote from one of their reports:

"These products are marketed and sold to young people and are readily available online and in shopping malls. They are also available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people".

There is absolutely zero evidence that e-cigarettes target teenagers. Just the opposite… the marketing is focused on adults who already smoke and are searching for a healthier alternative they can use in public places. And here is some breaking news: Adults like to shop in malls and enjoy a variety of flavor choices too! Besides, the initial cost of entry for a top of the line electronic cigarette is not practical for most teenagers.

I encourage you to do your own due diligence and research on electronic cigarette safety yourself to see if this is something that will benefit you. Look at all sides of the story and try to get unbiased information. Right now the FDA appears to be biased against electronic smoking for some reason. Do they have a hidden agenda? Who knows… but I think I detect trace elements of BS in the FDA reports!

To make a choice of which Premium Electronic Cigarette to buy, keep in mind that most electronic cigarette models basically work the same way. A battery powers an atomizer which vaporizes a nicotine/water solution that is inhaled by the user. The main differences are in overall quality/dependability as well as special/extra features that may appeal to you depending on your personality and needs.

Seven Features To Consider When Choosing The Best Premium Electronic Cigarette:

1. Overall look. Most manufacturers make their electronic cigarettes to look like a real cigarette. The cartridge is brown to look like a filter, the battery is made to look like main body of a tobacco cigarette and the end will even glow red when you inhale to add to a realistic smoking experience.

For smokers who are looking to express their individuality a bit more, you can choose from a variety of colors or exotic designs. Some companies even offer e-cigars and pipes.

2. Color of the LED. As mentioned above, the traditional look is a red LED on the tip that lights up when you take a drag. However, you can also choose a green or blue LED. What difference does it make? If your LED is red, you won’t get as much attention from other smokers because it looks so realistic. On the other hand, if the end lights up green or blue, then you will attract much more attention from curious smokers. This could be good or bad depending on your personality. Do you like to remain anonymous or do you enjoy socializing and answering question from strangers?

3. Vapor volume. How much vapor you’re able to get on one puff is a big deal for many smokers. Generally speaking, more volume equals a more satisfactory and realistic smoking experience.

4. Atomizer. The atomizer is what vaporizes the nicotine solution and contributes greatly to overall vapor volume. The most common problem is a clogged atomizer. You may want to consider a two-piece model where the nicotine cartridge and atomizer are one unit. Every time you change your cartridge you also get a fresh atomizer.

5. Battery life. Are you are going to use your premium electronic cigarette frequently throughout the day? If so, you want to make sure your battery has battery life that will last for a whole day. You may also want to consider a battery charger for your car if you’re on the road a lot.

6. Flavors. Do you want the traditional flavor of tobacco or menthol? Many companies also offer you the choice of experimenting with vanilla, chocolate, coffee or fruit flavors.

7. Nicotine strength. The cartridges generally come in several different nicotine strengths: High, medium, low and zero nicotine. If you’re trying to wean yourself off nicotine you may want to consider gradually cutting down on the strength levels.

Now that you know what to look for, with a little bit of research you should be able to find the best premium electronic cigarette that suits your personality and needs. Just don’t make the mistake of buying the cheapest electronic cigarette you find. It’s worth while to spend a few extra dollars initially to get a device that gives you the most realistic smoking experience without the mechanical problems found in many of the cheaper models.

Electronic cigarettes are being marketed as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco. But just how sure are we of elecronic cigarette safety? 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? Doesn’t it affect electronic cigarette safety? 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.

The FDA recently reported that traces of carcinogens where found in a sample of electronic cigarette nicotine liquid. However, these same carcinogens are also found in nicotine delivery alternatives like the patch and gum (which are both approved by the FDA). Also keep in mind that many every day foods like peanut butter contain trace levels of carcinogens. This is not to say that we should not be concerned about it. Just keep it in perspective. It’s important to remember that the dose of a particular carcinogen is an important factor in it’s toxicity. If carcinogens are present in e-cigarette vapor, it doesn’t not appear to be in high doses. Right now there is no evidence that these carcinogens are are even translated into the actual electronic cigarette vapor that is inhaled.

Can we assume electronic cigarette safety ? Until more studies are done it’s probably a good idea to err on the side of caution and assume that they are not 100% safe. But 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? I think it’s obvious…. So electronic cigarette safety should be seen in that perspective.

Your new eletronic 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 cigarette 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 eletronic 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 pass through. 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. Eletronic 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 eletronic cigarette 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 eletronic cigarette as soon as possible.