Mark Twain once said, ‘It’s easy to quit smoking. I have done it a hundred times!’ Smokers imitate Twain’s humor and fighting spirit but after several tries, they realized that they should not have tried in the first place. However, it’s worth the positive thinking. Smokers found out that the answer to quitting smoke is smoking too.
Chinese pharmacist Hon Lik once dreamed that he was sickly and coughing while being lifted by the fog. It’s either he got the impression that his dream was a premonition of how he would live or how he would die. Evidently, e-cigarette made him a wealthy man. He created a living out of his death method.
Hon Lik then researched about how to alter the smoker’s smoking habit if quitting is the problem. And out of smoke, he came up with electronic cigarettes that simulate tobacco smoking with lesser health hazards and risk of developing cancer. He turned over his idea Red Dragon Holdings where he worked and gave e-cigarette its first name Ruyan which means ‘to resemble smoking.’ It was release in the Chinese market in 2003 and began exporting in 2005. It was only in 2007 when the e-cigarette received the international patent.
How does it work?
The e-cigarette is divided into three segments to accommodate its three primary components: the cartridge, atomizer, and cartomizer.
Cartridge, the small plastic container with openings in both ends, is the second of the three segments. This is where the liquid solution also called the e-juice is inserted to be vaporized. Once used up, it can be refilled or replaced. The atomizer acts as heater to activate vaporization. This is the part of the e-cigarette that requires occasional replacement.
Cartomizer on the other hand is a combination of cartridge and atomizer. This was created to avoid fast degradation of the atomizer thus allowing the smoker to save on the expense. Usually, cartomizer comes in package of five.
E-cigarettes claim to be a non-risky alternative to tobacco smoking because of the absence real tobacco substance which are known to be cancer-causing. However, some specialists still question the safety of the contents of e-cigarettes and if it really helps reduce nicotine addiction. The e-liquid or e-juice that the e-cig vaporizes is known as nicotine solution which has concentration variation and the choices depend upon the smokers’ preferences. Concentrations range from zero to low to high and extra-high.
E-cigarettes are rechargeable battery operated. Recharging can be done through plugging it to an AC outlet, car, and USB port. The USB power option is the most convenient for some as the cable is only attached to the computer in order to use it.
E-cigarette is now available in all parts of the globe. The current version of e-cigarette is considered safer although US-FDA classified it as ‘drug delivery device.’ There are plans however to develop the e-cigarette into a zero-nicotine smoking device to help consumers completely cut down on nicotine consumption.