Have you been caught in the free e-cigarette fraud that is going around? If you have, don’t feel alone. Remember the old adage: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. There are numerous e-cig companies advertising on the Internet, many with names that sound similar to www.ecigarettedirect.co.uk and www.eliquid.co.uk. Don’t be fooled and get caught in any free electronic cigarette trial advertisements that may sound like these two companies.

Electronic cigarettes first appeared on the market in the 21st Century, but their origins can be traced back nearly half a century.

An e-cigarette is a pretty simple device. While there are a few different types of e-cigarettes, the basic workings are similar. Every e-cig has three main parts: the atomizer (sometimes contained within the cartridge or ‘cartomizer’), the cartridge and the battery. (See e-liquid terminology for more information.)

Adapter: a specialized piece of equipment allowing the use of atomizers and batteries that are not designed to be used together.

The benefits of switching from tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes appear significant. While there are no studies of long-term benefits, research suggests promising results. The immediate benefits of switching to e-cigarettes correspond with those of altogether quitting tobacco.

Users who switched to e-cigarettes reported a drastic decrease in smoker’s cough. Smoking tobacco cigarettes paralyses the cilia in lungs. The cilia begin moving again with the elimination of tobacco. The cough worsens as the cilia work to remove residual mucus. Coughing then dissipates as the lungs clear.

The process that eliminates the cough also improves breathing. Longer, deeper breaths replace the shallow breaths common in tobacco smokers. The increased oxygen level from improved breathing might cause dizziness for a short period.

Breathing also eases as sinuses clear. The continual stuffed nose disappears and the ability to smell understated odors reappears. Improved sense of taste returns with improved sense of smell.

Superficially, the smell of stale smoke no longer permeates hair and clothing. Yellow stains gradually disappear from fingers and teeth. These noticeable benefits affected all who switched to e-cigarettes.

The immediate benefits indicate a switch from tobacco cigarettes results in less future risk. There are no long-term studies of risks and benefits as e-cigarettes are a new product. Michael Siegel, a professor and a doctor, supports the reduction of tobacco harm. In one interview,  Professor stated that e-cigarettes are “…substantially safer than the conventional cigarette. Inhaling nicotine cannot be nearly as dangerous as inhaling nicotine plus thousands of other chemicals, including more than 40 carcinogens.”

The belief of Professor Siegel and others does not negate the need for long-term studies. They simply point out the consensus that exposure to fewer chemicals results in less risk. Further studies will likely validate this belief.

Some organizations are not taking a stand on the benefit of one product over the other due to the lack of long-term studies. However, research by independent entities provides compelling evidence that switching from tobacco cigarettes to e-cigarettes provides conclusive, immediate benefits. The benefits already experience by those who have switched are indicative of greater future benefits.

If you’re looking into buying your first electronic cigarette, you’re probably a little puzzled by the different types. While there are several styles to choose from, there are really only three basic types of electronic cigarettes: the single-piece disposable, the two-piece and the three-piece. Each type has its pros and cons.

Single-Piece Electronic Cigarettes

Most beginners start with the inexpensive, single piece, disposable e-cigarette. If you’re new to e-cigs and uncertain if they’ll work for you, this might be a good option.

Disposable electronic cigarettes and cigars use a pre-charged battery with a non-refillable nicotine cartridge. One-piece e-cigs have to be activated to work. Usually you twist the mouthpiece or push it in to connect the battery by breaking the foil seal. The disposable electronic cigars last longer than the e-cigarettes because they have a larger nicotine reservoir and hold more e-liquid. Electronic cigarettes are meant to be small and portable. They are more realistic for the user to enjoy. Most disposables are of the single-piece variety, although some have a two- or three-piece design with a refillable or replaceable nicotine cartridge and a battery that cannot be recharged.

Two-Piece Electronic Cigarettes

With two-piece e-cigs, the nicotine cartridge contains the atomizer. The atomizer is replaced every time you swap cartridges. Most batteries and atomizers need to be replaced after 6 to 12 weeks of use. It’s easy for a new user to damage the atomizer and render the unit useless.

The best aspect of the two-piece design is that you get a fresh atomizer with each nicotine cartridge replacement. You can also swap out cartridges easily to change the strength or flavor of the vapor. All you do is unscrew the cartridge and screw on a new one. Since you use a new atomizer with each cartridge, the flavors don’t mingle when you switch them. The bad part is that the cartridges cannot be refilled easily since they contain the atomizer. The user can also get an occasional bad cartridge that doesn’t work properly.

Three-Piece Electronic Cigarettes

Three-piece e-cigs contain a nicotine cartridge, a battery and an atomizer. The atomizer screws onto the battery and the cartridge is then screwed or pushed into place behind the atomizer. The obvious benefit to the three-piece e-cig is that the nicotine cartridge can be refilled easily and quickly by simply removing it from the atomizer. The only drawback to the three-piece design is that atomizers need to be replaced when they wear out after about two months.

There have been ongoing debates and discussions regarding the safety of using electronic cigarettes and the effects of e-liquid. Over the last few years, thousands of smokers have switched to e-cigarettes from conventional, tobacco cigarettes. Many experts believe that e-cigs are a much safer smoking alternative, but skeptics are concerned about additional risks. Experts are still conducting studies and researching the effects of such electronic devices, but many consider them to be tobacco harm reduction tools. The biggest concern comes from the use of e-liquid, which contains varying levels of nicotine and propylene glycol. Several tobacco and health care experts have been interviewed regarding the safety of e-cigarettes versus traditional cigarettes.

Electronic cigarettes and the e-liquid used within these devices are relatively new, and researchers are still undergoing vigorous studies to determine the safety and effects of usage. Some skeptics do not believe the e-cigarette to be safer than tobacco cigarettes, and others question the safety of the ingredients found in e-liquid. Professors and research teams are still publishing the results in hopes of addressing some common concerns and answering such questions regarding the effects of electronic cigarettes.

Propylene glycol, or PG, is the main ingredient in many e-liquids and produces the smoke-like vapor. Due to its presence in many foods and aerosols, PG has been studied for over 70 years with no results of harmful effects. E-cigarettes are fairly new, so no studies have been done concerning long-term effects of vaping. So far, no users have reported any short-term risks. Some e-liquids use vegetable glycerin, or VG, rather than PG to produce the desired vapor. VG is commonly used in oral care and as a sugar substitute. Both VG and PG are classified as “generally recognized as safe” based on studies from the last few decades. The difference between PG and VG is user preference. Some electronic cigarette users complain that PG causes discomfort in the throat, and other users report that VG is thicker and decreases the lifespan of atomizers. No matter which type of e-liquid used, there are no significant findings that imply either PG or VG produces harmful effects.

Zachary Cohn and Professor Michael Siegel analyzed the results of many studies performed on e-cigarettes. There are thousands of chemicals in tobacco cigarettes that have yet to be identified, but researchers know exactly what is in e-cigarettes. The chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes are not present in the electronic versions except for trace amounts. These negligible quantities do not pose any health risks to users. Dr. Siegel concluded that “they [e-cigarettes] are undoubtedly safer than tobacco cigarettes.”

Researchers performed studies on smokers going through tobacco abstinence to figure out the most effective replacement therapies. Many symptoms of tobacco abstinence revolve around smoking stimuli and nicotine withdrawal. The studies concluded that smoking stimuli alone, such as puffing on a cigarette-like device, sufficiently suppresses some symptoms. Cessation products that are based solely on nicotine withdrawal have only a seven percent success rate over six months. Numerous smokers have successfully switched to e-cigarettes due to its combination of smoking stimuli and nicotine replacement, even though is not recognized as a cessation aid.

If you’re already enjoying e-cigarettes, you might want to save some money by refilling the cartomizer yourself. Preloaded cartridges can get costly in the long run, so learning to refill them is a good habit to adopt. It’s easy to do if you have the right equipment.

Tools Needed

With tank systems, depending on how you plan to refill your e-cigarette, you don’t need any tools.

To refill other e-cigarettes, you will need a dripper or syringe to draw the e-liquid from the bottle. You’ll also need a toothpick, tweezer or jeweler’s screwdriver to remove the rubber cap and pad so you can access the filling.

Methods

• To refill your e-cig with the drip method, you need to open the cartridge. Then remove the filling with the toothpick or screwdriver. Drip a small amount of e-liquid into the cartomizer. Replace the filling. When the filling has absorbed the e-liquid you dripped into the cart, drip a few more drops onto the filling to fully saturate it. Don’t add too much e-liquid. The filling should be saturated without any e-liquid pooled above it. Then close the cartridge and your e-cigarette is ready for action.

Some vapers prefer to drip without the cartridge, but be careful, as this can lead to a hot atomiser – and burnt lips!

• The injection method of refilling requires an injector or syringe. The syringe’s needle can penetrate the filling, allowing you to directly place the e-liquid into the filling without having to wait for it to be absorbed. First you need to draw out about 5 to 10 ml of e-liquid from the bottle. Then remove the cap and rubber grommet at the back of the cartomizer. Stick the syringe’s needle into the filler material at the upper-most or North position and deposit a small amount of e-liquid. Then repeat this step at the bottom of the filler and on both sides. Once again, be careful not to overfill the cart. You can also use the syringe to add flavor to your e-cigarette. Replace the cap on the end of the cart and wipe it clean if you spilled any e-liquid on the surface.

• With the tank system, refilling your e-cigarette can be as simple as opening the cartridge, squeezing e-liquid directly into the cartridge, replacing the cap and inserting the cartridge into the atomiser.

After you’ve filled your e-cigarette, squirt any leftover e-liquid back into the bottle. Then cleanse the syringe with cool water and enjoy your e-cig.

The liquid used in electronic cigarettes, also known as e-liquid, is most commonly composed of nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals in a base of propylene glycol. However, about a fifth of electronic cigarette e-liquids have a base of vegetable glycerine, another liquid chemical. Electronic cigarettes have become a popular cigarette alternative for health-conscious tobacco users, so many users may be concerned about how vegetable glycerine-based e-liquids compare to those based on propylene glycol.