Clean Smoke

Education on a large scale about the perils of tobacco smoking and the harmful effects of nicotine began to cut into the number of cigarette sticks being sold.  However young and impressionable minds still are seen to embrace it.  According to WHO reports projections say that there could be 10 million deaths due to tobacco addiction.  

So how do we address this problem?  There are three things to do. First let the health officials initiate the primary health care.  How is this done?  It is done by identifying the risk factors and eliminating them even before they take root. Second is identifying those early symptoms contain and remove them.  Third is the tertiary treatment.  In this phase treat the disease.  Help reduce the impairment disability and suffering in the people.  

The first encompasses smoking cessation. It means taking the lead to avoid or prevent smoking or use of tobacco at any and every level.  Avoid tobacco and all its derivatives.  That includes nicotine also.  Along with raising the awareness of public on the disruptive harms of using tobacco other smoking cessation programs services and solutions should be found.

One such solution is the e-cigarette. 

He woke up to smoke. He took small bites while eating to have his puffs.  He made time to smoke in the lab during his experiments.  In fact he had everything scheduled around his smoking.   If it was two packs from dawn to dusk it was at least a pack by the time he completed his dinner and chat with his friends.

His dad too was a smoker.  He died a smoker. He died of cancer caused by tobacco smoking.  That’s when his son our hero Hon Lik decided enough is enough and he had better quit smoking.  During one of those nights he dreamed that he was drowning in fumes and was dying.  That triggered and egged him on to invent the e cigarette.

His e cigarette is named “Ruyan” meaning “like smoke” in Chinese dialect.  The e cigarette was patented in 2003. 

E cigarette looks and feels like your regular tobacco cigarette.  Except that there is no tobacco or any of those associated deadly components like arsenic and tar and other chemicals that can kill you.

E cigarette uses propylene glycol that looks like smoke.  Actually the electronic cigarette mechanism is very simple.  A rechargeable battery with its electric pulse triggers a heating element otherwise also known as ‘atomiser’ that converts a liquid into fumes and disperses it.  Some of these e cigarettes also have a red LED light at their tip to simulate a burning cigarette.

There are many types of e cigarettes.  Some of these e cigarette models employ tactile switches and vacuum switches.

Electronic cigarette juice or e liquid aka e liquid is the content that forms the smoke.  The refillable cartridges come with these liquids with nicotine.  The concentration varies.  

There are many flavours to choose from.  There are also the plain ones without nicotine or any flavours.  

E cigarettes have won the support of the anti-smoking lobby and have inspired many to follow them.  

"They perceive it to be the best smoking cessation tool yet".  

Electronic cigarette at a best gadget now addressing the psychological need of the smoker to ‘get the fix’ with proper legislation better pricing innovative design can definitely evolve and promote healthy living in the days to come.