Ecig Facts: 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Vaping

Ecigs are growing in popularity, that’s no news flash. But as the vaping industry continues to attract more mainstream media attention, it leaves users with some confusion about ecig facts vs fiction. Let’s debunk some ecig myths and set the record straight.

Here are 8 cool ecig facts you didn’t know about vaping:

1. The First Ever Vaper was invented in the 1960s: According to CigElectric, “In 1963, Herbert A. Gilbert patented a device described as ‘a smokeless non-tobacco cigarette.’ The device heated a nicotine liquid and produced vapor. He was approached by various businesses that were interested in manufacturing the device, but it never happened; and this firstelectronic cigarette disappeared from public record in 1967.”
2. There is no smoke involved: Nothing burns and no smoke is produced when you inhale an ecig. When you take a hit on your ecig, vapor fills your mouth, you hold it for a few seconds, and exhale. You do not have to inhale the vapor into your lungs. Nicotine is absorbed through the mucus membranes in your mouth and nose.
3. Second-hand exposure to vapor has no health risks: A recent study by French scientists found that vapor from ecigs dissolves within 11 seconds, drawing the conclusion that exposure to second hand ecig vapor poses no risk to the public.
4. On average, ecigs are cheaper than smoking cigarettes: The average yearly cost for a pack-a-day smoker is about $3650 ($10/pack x 365 days a year = $3650 per year), whereas the estimated cost of a starter kit and one-year supply of ecig supplies is about $600-$700. Also, a single ecigarette cartridge lasts close to 40 times longer than a regular cigarette, giving you more bang for your buck.
5. The concentration of nicotine in traditional cigarettes is 10 times higher than in ecigarettes: “A recent study published in the Oxford Journals’ Nicotine and Tobacco Research Journal showed that while both regular cigarette smoke and electronic cigarette vapor contain nicotine, the concentration in traditional cigarettes is 10 times higher than in e-cigarettes. Additionally, the study found that ecig vapor did not contain many of the toxic products found in regular cigarette smoke,” says Clarence Wurley.
6. Eliquid ingredients are not a mystery: Eliquid ingredients are openly discussed. They are included in product descriptions and the information is widely available online by ejuice producers and retailers.
7. Ecigarettes have been studied extensively: Some say about vaping, “But we don’t have enough data yet.” Simply not true. Vaping has been studied extensively by scientists, major universities and consumer groups for many years and there is plenty of information available to the public.
8. The industry has started self-regulating: Previously, there were no regulations in the ecig industry. Today, the effort to make strides toward industry-wide regulations continues. So far, self-regulations include packaging with warnings and child resistant caps, and eliquids are now being developed in sterile lab settings.

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Do E-cigarettes Really Help People Quit Smoking?

You know how they always say that e-cigs has helped many people quit their smoking habit? Well, it seems there’s scientific evidence to support that claim. In 2013, a group of researchers did a 12-month randomized controlled study on 300 smokers who had no plans of quitting. Here are the results of the study:

Declines in cig/day use and eCO levels were observed at each study visits in all three study groups (p<0.001 vs baseline), with no consistent differences among study groups. Smoking reduction was documented in 22.3% and 10.3% at week-12 and week-52 respectively. Complete abstinence from tobacco smoking was documented in 10.7% and 8.7% at week-12 and week-52 respectively.

The takeaway from this technical mumbo-jumbo is that a significant number of smokers who participated in the study went on to completely abstain from tobacco after a year of using e-cigarettes in a controlled manner. It’s interesting to note that these smokers didn’t want to quit at the time they began the study. You can just imagine how much more effective the process could have been if they asked smokers who wanted to quit in the first place.

The significant reduction in cigarette consumption and the enduring tobacco abstinence aren’t the only good things to come out of this study. Participants also reported a substantial decrease in side effects and fewer withdrawal symptoms.

Two years after, another group of researchers came along with the same intent: find proof that e-cigarettes have the potential to help smokers reduce their nicotine intake and ultimately end their nicotine addiction altogether.

It should be noted that at the end of T8 follow-up about 53% of participants were still abstinent from tobacco cigarettes (only e-cig users); this cessation rate is higher than the 21% obtained by Adriaens and colleagues at the same time interval. In light of this result, it could be considered that the technical, behavioural, and psychological support offered in our medically assisted training was able to offer a quicker and efficient intervention to help the participants.

All in all, smokers – whether they wanted to quit or not – will eventually stop their smoking habit when they undergo a medically assisted training program on e-cigarette use. The cravings disappear, withdrawal symptoms are less severe, and no overdose incidents are observed. A large number of smokers gradually ended their nicotine dependence and showed significantly fewer biomarkers of cigarette combustion products in the body.

Is Eliquid Less Addictive Than Tobacco?

“We found that e-cigarettes appear to be less addictive than tobacco cigarettes in a large sample of long-term users,” said Jonathan Foulds.
Image: ©iStock Photo mauro_grigollo

Penn State Study Says Yes, Eliquid is Less Addictive than Tobacco

Once vaping and ecigarettes started growing in popularity, it was only a matter of time before they started being compared to their traditional counterpart. People are curious about the similarities and differences between smoking cigarettes and vaping ecigarettes.

Among the most common questions posed by potential ecig vapers…

“Is eliquid less addictive than tobacco?”

Even though they are so often compared, cigarettes and ecigs are very different. For example, eliquid doesn’t produce smoke, it produces vapor, which not only makes vaping a completely different experience, but it also affects health in a very different way than tobacco and nictine.

E-cigarettes are less addictive than traditional cigarettes

According to a 2014 ecig study from the Penn State College of Medicine, that is. “We found that e-cigarettes appear to be less addictive than tobacco cigarettes in a large sample of long-term users,” said Jonathan Foulds, Professor of Public Health Sciences and Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine.

The study focused on more than 3,500 ex-smokers who currently vape ecigs. Published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, the results showed that:

• Ecig users wait longer in the day for their first vape when compared to smokers
• Approximately 25% of ecigarette users felt anxious when they don’t have ecigs, compared to a whopping 90% of smokers who say they feel anxious without cigarettes
• Smokers are more likely than ecig users to wake up in the middle of the night to smoke
• Ecigarettes are no more addictive than nicotine patches, in the short term
• After 3 months, ecig users are less dependent on eliquid than those using a nicotine patch or gum

“We don’t have long-term health data of e-cig use yet, but any common sense analysis says that e-cigs are much less toxic,” says Foulds. “And our paper shows that they appear to be much less addictive, as well. So in both measures, they seem to have advantages when you’re concerned about health.”

This is good news for ecig users! We’ll continue to shed light on vaping eliquid, but we want to hear from you, too! Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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Where Can You Vape When You Travel?

Some airports allow vapers to chase clouds and enjoy their flavored e-juices at designated areas.

It seems like all the airlines, buses and railway services around the world have made this universal pact to ban vaping and the materials associated with it, which include mods and wraps, drip tips, and cartomizers. These days you probably feel the only place you can be safe and comfy while vaping is in your home.

But, that doesn’t have to be the case all the time.

London’s Heathrow Airport welcomed the world’s first vaping zone in 2013.

Now passengers passing through Heathrow’s Terminal 4 are able to enjoy premium electronic cigarettes in comfort and style in the “Gamucci Electronic Cigarette Zone.”

The Gamucci Zone is the first airport venue to offer a designated indoor area where passengers can enjoy electronic cigarettes. It can be found in the International Departure Lounge next to luxury brands and duty free stores, with entry restricted only to those aged 18 and over.

Today, Heathrow allows vapers to enjoy a few puffs from their vapes at designated areas.

Passengers are permitted to use electronic cigarettes within our premises; however, these should not be used beyond the gate area. Where you are intending to carry cigarettes in your hand luggage, please check with your airline to ensure they are allowed on board the aircraft.

In the United States, vaping is explicitly prohibited inside planes and trains. Vape Unlimited Magazine reported that “vaping is not allowed inside terminals at Orlando International Airport, but it is allowed inside terminals at Tampa International Airport.”

The site also lists other airports in the United States where vaping is allowed indoors. These include Charlotte Douglas International, Dulles International, McCarren International, Miami International, Ronald Reagan Washington International, Minneapolis-St. Paul International, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International.

Furthermore, most of the major airports have designated areas for both smoking and vaping. An extended list of airports that welcome vapers is found on the E-cigarette Forum website. If you traveled often, then I encourage you to check it out as soon as possible.

Nicotine Boosts Effects of Caffeine and Sugar on the Brain

Morning coffee and vaping. Image Credit: Terry Ozon via Flickr under CC BY 2.0

People who enjoyed a moderate amount of nicotine in their lives would often smoke while they drink caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. The heady mix of caffeine, sugar and nicotine creates a pleasurable high, which these ex-smokers like to replicate day after day. Even though tobacco residue was practically eliminated in e-cigarettes, the presence of nicotine in the e-juice ensured that vapers would continue to experience the psychotropic effects of the drug.

Nicotine’s Effects on the Brain

Nicotine is a specific type of stimulant that increases attention, concentration and possible memory. It is reported that it sometimes has a calming or anti-anxiety affect. Nicotine stimulates the heart and circulation.

When paired with coffee or cola, nicotine speeds up metabolism of caffeine, and quickly delivers the high that smokers wanted. It’s readily absorbed into the bloodstream via the mouth, throat and lungs. And, it reaches the brain within 8 seconds after inhalation.

The vaper then experiences an explosion of pleasurable sensations because of the actions of caffeine, nicotine and sugar (if you’re drinking caffeinated soda). Consider these statements from the Transfigure Personal Fitness Training blog:

“After drinking a cup of coffee (or any caffeine containing beverage), the caffeine within enters the bloodstream and stimulates the release of more glucose throughout the body. This produces a feeling of alertness and temporarily raises energy levels.”

“Much like caffeine nicotine brings blood glucose levels up too high and the resulting drop in blood sugar signals cravings for sweets – or at least another cigarette. Nicotine also tends to blunt or dull the taste buds, which enhances the desire for stronger flavored foods (higher in salt and fat).”

“…it’s safe to recognize sugar as a potent drug, the health effects of its consumption (in even moderate doses) are comparable to caffeine and nicotine – some experts say it’s on par with heroine.”

If you’re going to make vaping a lifestyle choice, then take the necessary precautions in defending your health from the negative effects of overindulgence. Moderation is the key as well as prevention. Take your vitamins, exercise daily, make sure your body is hydrated, and eat a balanced meal.

Understanding Electronic Cigarettes: What’s a Throat Hit?

One of the most common and frequently misunderstood terms you will see when reading about ecigarettes and vaping is “throat hit.”

Sounds violent. Don’t worry, it’s not. A throat hit is nothing like a throat punch, so don’t panic.

Just wanted to get that cleared up.

So what exactly is a throat hit?

To smokers (or former smokers), a throat hit is the physical feeling you experience in the back of your throat when you inhale. If you’ve smoked regular cigarettes, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And if you’re choosing eliquids that have nicotine, chances are that you smoke — be it a lot of a little — or you used to smoke and are making the transition to vaping. Many vapers say that physical sensation of the throat hit is a major factor in their overall vaping experience.

One of the first things you will notice when you try electronic cigarettes for the first time is that the throat hit is different from the sensation you experience when inhaling traditional cigarette smoke. And if you’ve never smoked, it’ll be a unique experience all its own.

There are two main factors that will impact your throat hit sensation:

1. Nicotine level: Basically, the higher concentration of nicotine in the eliquid, the stronger the hit. Nicotine  levels between 8–16mg provide most vapers with an noticeable throat hit similar to that of smoking an average cigarette.

2. Eliquid ingredients: Not all eliquids contain nicotine. Many ejuices are completely nicotine free. But that doesn’t mean there’s no throat hit. Various flavours and ingredients, like menthol, grain alcohol, cinnamon and capsaicin, will impact throat hit sensations. These ingredients are often used to replicate the nicotine throat hit, but are used in ejuices with little to no nicotine concentration.

Other factors that may impact the intensity level are ecig wattage (the more powerful the ecig, the stronger the hit) and the propylene glycol (PG) content (that’s the smoke-like vapor you see).

Finding your ideal throat hit sensation

We can’t tell you what your “ideal” throat hit would be–that’s a personal preference. Some people prefer a light sensation while others crave a stronger hit. Preferences can also change over time. Fortuntely, vaping allows you to continuously change and experiment with different throat hit levels to find the one that suits your taste today.

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Is it true vaping leads to loss of hearing?

There’s no truth to this claim unless you started pouring e-liquid into your ear canal for whatever stupid reason. Early this week, Rob Swire, a musician from London claimed on Twitter that he experienced complete hearing loss on his left ear because of e-cigs and vaping. See his tweets below:

Swire is the other half of the electronic music duo known as Knife Party. Together with his pal, Gareth McGrillen, the duo has collaborated with big names in the industry, such as Swedish House Mafia and Foreign Beggars.

It’s interesting to note that the guy claimed he had 100% hearing loss on his left ear for four days, but miraculously regained his hearing after he stopped vaping. He ranted against the use of propylene glycol as solvent in vaping liquids and even provided links to studies on topical and injectable solutions that contain PG.

Links to propylene glycol otoxicity stuff: http://t.co/zud6RpaREN http://t.co/tspvzuNnds http://t.co/6HSniTFcoQ http://t.co/sgt3eyqHBz

— Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 6, 2015

He also posted the following as a warning to everyone:

If you use e-cigs / vape and experience any of these symptoms, stop vaping and go see a doctor (or ENT): pic.twitter.com/61ay2ysAJr — Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 7, 2015

But, did he really lose his hearing to vaping? Based on the links to studies he provided, people will lose their hearing when PG is applied directly to the cochlea, just like in the case of ear drops. Whatever bad things (if they do happen) PG does to vapers, the effects have to be in the mouth, throat and lungs – parts of the body that are in direct contact with the vapor.

Wait… Did he try to blow clouds of vapor through his ears?? As far as I know, you had to have perforated eardrums to do that. I’ve seen people push milk out of their eyes through the ducts that drain tears down our nose. If Swire could do that, then I’d say he’s a master at vaping tricks because that’s kind of impossible to do.

Well, whatever stupid thing Mr. Swire did with his e-juice to make him feel miserable for four days is now a bygone thing. He’s lucky it’s only temporary and the cure consists of decongestants – fairly inexpensive when compared to surgery, don’t you think?

Hearing back to normal . No noise-exposure-related hearing loss (occurs at 4k), so STFU “vape advocates” pic.twitter.com/mUEgwL5Oli

— Rob Swire (@rob_swire) July 8, 2015

In case you’re experiencing some hearing problems, such as tinnitus, in one or both of your ears, check out these forum threads over at Reddit and ECF. Fellow vapers and their doctors suggest that you switch to an e-juice with a reduced proportion of PG to VG and less nicotine. Try the new e-juice for a week or two, and see whether the ringing or buzzing in your ears disappears or not.

 

How To Choose Ecig Flavours

One of the first things that people new to ecigs quickly realize is the sheer number of ecig flavours they have to choose from. There are literally hundreds of e-liquid flavours, making it tough to know where to start. But don’t let that get in your way! It’s super important to choose an ecigarette flavour that you will enjoy – it’s arguably one of the most important factors to creating an enjoyable vaping experience.

Choosing an Eliquid Flavour

The truth is that you will most likely spend more time exploring e-cig flavor options than anything else. The first thing to understand is that ecig flavours fall into a number of core categories:

• Tobacco flavours
• Dessert flavours
• Fruit flavours
• Menthol flavours
• Other flavours

Start by choosing the categories that appeal to you, and start with just one or two flavours. At first, consider purchasing smaller doses and sampler packs to try a larger variety of flavours.

3 Quick Flavour Selection Tips

1. What do you prefer? Are you used to smoking regular cigarettes? Do you prefer sweet flavours over bitter flavours? Do you want a light or strong taste? Asking these questions will help you narrow down your preferences.

2. Try a few to start. While it may be tempting, try to resist the urge to buy every flavour that sounds delicious (‘cuz that’d be all of them!). Save your money until you know what you like. Start with a select few, get a feel for what resonates and then start exploring beyond the basic eliquid flavours.

3. Remember ejuice strength. Even though the flavour may be appealing, if the e liquid has a higher nicotine concentration than you’re used to, you may not like it. Be sure to double check that you’re getting the right amount of nicotine concentration when you place your ejuice order.

The beauty of electronic cigarettes is that you always have a massive selection of flavours! Start with a few then expand your pallete over time.

Have a personal favourite? Leave us a comment below and tell us which flavours you like best.!

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The Effects of E-cigarettes on Sexual Health

The Effects of E-cigarettes on Sexual Health

We often see men and women enjoy their post-coital smoke in film and TV. Whether it’s a ubiquitous practice or not is somewhat doubtful, but those who light up a stick or two after a hot romp in bed say it’s the best feeling in the world.

There are many theories why they do this, but the most popular is that the nicotine rush stimulates the release of more endorphins in the body as well as dopamine in the brain, and this extends the orgasmic high we all feel. If a stick of cigarette with around 1 mg of nicotine in it was enough to keep you in the afterglow of sex, imagine how much you’d enjoy after-sex vaping.

We all know that smoking brings a host of health problems, including erectile dysfunction among men of a certain age.

Clinical and basic science studies provide strong indirect evidence that smoking may affect penile erection by the impairment of endothelium-dependent smooth muscle relaxation or more specifically by affecting NO production via increased ROS generation. Whether nicotine or other products of cigarette smoke mediate all effects related to vascular damage is still unknown.

Electronic cigarettes may not cure ED, but they bring additional benefits to the table that may be good for your sexual health. For one, vaping stops you from constantly inhaling tar and other harmful chemicals that wreak havoc on your body’s ability to circulate blood in your nether regions. In effect, it increases your stamina, improves your breathing, and raises your energy level.

Another effect of quitting cigarettes is that your nose and tongue become more sensitive to different scents and tastes. In bed, this translates to a more engaging foreplay with your partner.

An article from Cigbuyer mentioned a couple of massive surveys on e-cig users and the health benefits that vaping brought into their lives:

A 2014 survey of 19,000 electronic cigarette users found that nearly 74% reported higher endurance levels. 86% reported improved smell, 82% better taste, and 27% of respondents said their sexual performance had improved since switching to electronic cigarettes. In a 2009 UKMedix survey, almost 60% of those questioned said their sex lives had “significantly improved” since switching to e-cigs.

Just remember, however, that all of these surveys were based on consumer feedback. There’s no definitive proof yet of vaping’s long-term benefits to smokers. So far, scientists have found that nicotine creates short-lived feelings of euphoria and pleasure, and this makes vaping an awesome after-sex activity.

10 Cool Vaping Tees and Tops

Many people see vaping as a way of life and as a thriving sub-culture in our society. And, they celebrate this through fashion. Here are ten cool vaping tees and tops found online that represent the vaping community well.

Top (L to R): Do You Even Vape Bro? T-Shirt from ava_vape via Snaptee; #CLOUDCHASER T-Shirt from ava_vape via Snaptee; Clouds So Thick Weathermen Wanna Study Me Men’s T-Shirt from ava_vape via Snaptee.

Bottom (L to R): Drip Junkie Vape Tee from Purple K Tees via Skreened; Build Drip Vape Repeat Fitted Tee from Purple K Tees via Skreened; Good Vape Sir T-Shirt from 45 Vinyl via Etsy; Keep Calm And Vape On T-Shirt from Cherry Bargains via Etsy.

These shirts are made from 100% cotton. They are available in other colors, including white, gray and blue, besides black. Some tees have digitally printed graphic designs while others are made with heat transfer technology using vinyl decals.

Check out three more of these cool graphic tees for vapers.

Left: Dripping Vape Juice Graphic Tank Top from Teee Shop via Wanelo; Right (Top to Bottom): I Like To Party And By Party I Mean Vape T-Shirt from Human; Vaping Kicks Ash 3/4 Sleeve Shirt from Teee Shop via Wanelo.

We often express our love of vaping by wearing these kinds of shirts, but I’m sure that’s not the only reason. I see these shirts as a fun and lighthearted way to motivate ourselves and to build a sense of community.