The Electronic Cigarette was developed in China in 2004. It was designed to take the place of smoking tobacco cigarettes and cigars because, despite global smoking bans, many smokers just find it too difficult to quit altogether. There are numerous nicotine replacement products on the market, such as gum and patches, but these in no way replicate the smoking experience which has been proven to be a part of the addictive ritual of smoking. The e-cigarette is revolutionary in that it's aim is to both deliver nicotine to user and simulate the experience of smoking a traditional tobacco cigarette.

The Electronic Cigarette, or e-cig , in most cases looks just like a traditional cigarette and is made of a mouthpiece that holds a nicotine cartridge, a heating element or atomizer, a battery and an LED at the tip of the device. The way e-cigs work is that they contain an airflow meter that is triggered when the user inhales on the device. This activates the atomizer and delivers the nicotine to the smoker by a short burst of vapor that is inhaled. The LED at the tip lights up showing that the battery is working and also making the device appear similar to a lit cigarette. The vapor that is exhaled may look like smoke but it is actually just water, propylene glycol based vapor that is odorless and harmless.

E-cigarettes come in many shapes, colors and flavors. There are the models that look like traditional cigarettes and also some that are made to look like fountain pens. Flavors are limitless from Marlboro and Camel to Mint and Chocolate, with new flavors being developed constantly. The cartridges are also available with different levels of nicotine. The various levels of nicotine allows the smoker to naturally wean themselves off of nicotine slowly.

There is a lot of controversy and confusion with regards to the legality and safety of electronic cigarettes and the media does not seem to be sorting the facts out for us very well. E-Cigarettes are available for sale in the United States but they are NOT endorsed by the FDA. Electronic Cigarettes can be sold as "Alternatives" to tobacco cigarettes but they are not approved yet as "Smoking Cessation" devices. Electronic Cigarettes have not been deemed to be unsafe by any US or European health organization and parts of Europe have even declared the electronic cigarette to be a public-friendly device.

Traditional tobacco cigarettes have over 4,000 chemicals in them, a lot of which have been deemed carcinogenic and dangerous to your health. Switching to electronic cigarettes eliminates those chemicals. People who have smoked traditional cigarettes that switch to electronic cigarettes say that they fell better, can breather easier and have recovered their sense of taste and smell. There is no flame or smoke with electronic cigarettes, therefore the smoking bans do not apply. In fact, many restaurants, airports, malls and casinos welcome electronic cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes are also more cost effective than tobacco cigarettes. Aside from the initial investment in a starter kit, you will save a ton of money by switching. Many electronic cigarette smokers save over 75% over regular cigarettes.

The electronic cigarette has the potential to save millions of lives from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. Quitting smoking is hard, the addictive properties of traditional tobacco cigarettes make it near impossible for people to quit. The solution may lay with switching from tobacco cigarettes to electronic cigarettes.

Gina King is an expert on electronic cigarettes and is working diligently to help electronic cigarettes become a healthier, mainstream smoking tool.

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