Smokeless cigarettes or electronic cigarettes are a relatively new product devised as an alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist called Hon Lik. Many are designed to look like cigarettes, pipes or even cigars to enable the user to feel as if they are smoking a tobacco product.

Smokeless cigarettes were invented as an alternative to nicotine cigarettes and a remarkable invention they have been. They look and taste like tobacco cigarettes but they don’t have over 4,000 cancer giving chemicals in their make up.

What they do have is a battery, atomiser and nicotine cartridges. You can get cartridges in different strengths and different flavours including menthol. You can even get electronic cigars or pipes if that’s your smoke.

Unlike tobacco cigarettes you are not breaking any no smoking laws if you puff away on an e-cig in public places, but I always recommend tact.

Because electronic cigarettes haven’t been thoroughly tested and given the seal of approval by all of the states of the US and other governments we aren’t allowed to make claims that they are stop smoking aids, so anything that I say after this point is my personal opinion and this is solely from my personal experience.

I totally believe that  e cigarettes are better for the smoker’s health than tobacco cigarettes. I totally believe that those who would normally suffer from second hand smoke won’t with the smoke (vapour) given out from ecigs. I understand and agree with the stance of governments but I believe that with proper testing and manufacture controls this invention could save many lives, so wouldn’t it be better to test and regulate them sooner rather than later?

I bought an electronic cigarette on May 19th 2009. I haven’t smoked a tobacco cigarette since then, in fact I haven’t smoked an ecig either for more than 18 months. My breathing is better and so is my circulation and related health problems. My chest has stopped making scary noises that woke me up in the night and I’ve saved over £2000. I smoked for over 40 years! If you would like to read about my experiences with electronic cigs click here.

If electronic cigarettes are not intended to be a stop smoking aid what use are they?

• You can smoke them legally in public places. Particularly useful for smokers who get nervous on long air flights.
• You are not putting other people’s health at risk with second hand smoke.
• They cost a great deal less than tobacco products.
• There is no risk of fire from electronic smoking products.
• You don’t smell like a dirty old ashtray.
• No nicotine stained fingers.
• No holes in your clothes or furniture from dropped ash.
• No nicotine to wash off paintwork.

I could come up with even more reasons to switch to ecigs but I’m sure you get the picture.