HOW DOES AN E-CIGARETTE WORK? USING E-CIGARETTES TO HELP YOU STOP SMOKING

*2025 Update - Check out our new range of E-Cigarettes, the SMOKO VAPE MAX!

If you want to stop smoking but aren’t sure how, or maybe you’ve tried and failed, then e-cigarettes may be the best option for you. New evidence indicates that Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) - that's the science name for E-Cigarettes - could be up to twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapy products such as nicotine patches and nicotine gum.

How Does E-Cigarette Work: A Guide to Using E-Cigarettes to Stop Smoking

Smoking is a habit, not just because of the addictive substance nicotine, but the act itself. Our brain associates all the things happening together when we smoke - the nicotine stimulates us and our body wants to repeat the reward response, and this is how a habit is formed (1). It’s just a shame that habit is smoking!

Whether it’s when you are having a drink at the end of the day, or with your first coffee in the morning, smoking is part of our daily routine for smokers. Because of this routine constantly reminding you about smoking, it can be extremely difficult to quit. Every day when you have that first coffee your body expects to have the nicotine from smoking cigarettes as well.

When smokers try and quit, most forget about the physical habit and focus on the nicotine. By using an electronic cigarette you cover all your bases, you give your body the nicotine it craves while also keeping to the physical habit you have built up over the years. Now, there is one important difference between smoking and vaping - and that is the choice of flavours!

Finding a flavour you want to vape can really make vaping an appealing choice over smoking. The reality is that the additives in tobacco increase what is called the ‘bioavailability’ of nicotine (2) - this is how much of it is readily taken up by the body. This results in a super nicotine hit that is hard to replicate any other way. Some vapes use a type of nicotine known as nic salt - a salt form of nicotine that provides a smooth inhale experience and may get into the blood faster than the pure form of nicotine - freebase nicotine. With that said, studies indicate that freebase nicotine can achieve and maintain higher blood nicotine levels than nic salt (3), so it looks like there is advantages to each!

Unless you want to be a dual-user (someone who vapes and smokes) or use multiple forms of nicotine replacement together, enjoying the flavour is likely to bridge the gap between the reduced satisfaction from a lesser nicotine hit when vaping.

There are many other smoking cessation aids on the market for smokers looking to quit, and some may be more tailored to your needs. The other options - patches, gums, lozenges, inhalator or even nicotine pouches - are all used very differently to a tobacco cigarette. This means that these other forms of nicotine delivery are unlikely to help with the habit of the hand-to-mouth action of smoking.

What are E-Cigarettes and How Do They Work?

E-cigarettes, also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigs, are battery-operated devices designed to deliver nicotine through inhalation. Unlike traditional regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes heat a liquid (commonly referred to as e-liquid) to create an aerosol, which users then inhale. This process is often called “vaping.”

Electronic cigarettes come in various shapes and sizes. Some resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, while others look like everyday items such as pens or USB memory sticks. The e-liquid typically contains nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerine, and flavourings. When the device is activated, the liquid is heated, producing a vapour that the user inhales. This method allows users to experience the sensation of smoking without the harmful combustion products found in tobacco cigarettes.

Types of Electronic Cigarette

There are a few main types of E-Cigarette to choose from, while they use the same premise to function, there are some quit significant differences.

• Cigalike E-Cigarettes - Designed to look and feel like regular cigarettes, these early vaping devices were incredibly effective at helping smokers to quit. Utilising the 'mouth to lung inhale' technique used for smoking cigarettes, this vaping device is still live and kicking today in the SMOKO E-Cigarette!

• Vape Pens - Normally a step up in terms of power and customisation, some vape pens had refillable tanks that the user would refill with their own e-liquid bottle, some featured prefilled refills. The refillable versions normally require spare parts like an extra heating element (or vape coil), something prefilled versions avoided by having a new coil in each refill.

• Pod Vapes - Available as refillable or with prefilled refills - like the SMOKO VAPE POD - these devices normally feature a power up and sleek design, again with refillable options requiring spares and time for maintenance.

• Vape mods - Typically the most customisable of vaping devices, these refillable vapes offer varying power outputs, the opportunity for different coil set ups, and also use a different inhale technique known as 'direct lung' that is inhaled deep by the user, instead of the 'mouth to lung' inhale that cigalike and vape pens

Benefits of Using E-Cigarettes to Quit Smoking Tobacco Cigarettes

Switching from smoking traditional cigarettes to using electronic cigarettes can offer several potential benefits. Research suggests that e-cigarettes might be less harmful than combustible cigarettes, primarily because they do not produce the toxic chemicals associated with burning tobacco. For those looking to quit smoking, e-cigarettes can help manage nicotine cravings, making the transition smoother.

A 2021 review found that individuals who used e-cigarettes to quit smoking, along with expert face-to-face support, were up to twice as likely to succeed compared to those using other nicotine replacement products (4). While e-cigarettes are not FDA-approved quit aids - yet - they can be a valuable tool for some people in their journey to quit smoking. However, it’s essential to approach e-cigarette use with caution and seek professional advice when needed.

Additionally, E-Cigarettes offer greater control over the nicotine levels you want to consume. While the legal maximum strength for retail e-liquids in the UK is 20mg/ml (the same as a 2% strength), lower strengths are available, all the way down to nicotine free vape juice. This allows vapers to reduce their nicotine consumption at a comfortable rate, all the while seeing the same improvements in bodily function associated with quitting smoking!

Quit Smoking Strategies and Support

Quitting smoking cigarettes is a challenging endeavour, but numerous strategies and support systems can make the process more manageable. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which includes products like patches, gums, and lozenges, has been widely used to help people quit smoking and is considered a safe treatment, even for prolonged periods of time. Counselling and behavioural therapy can also be highly effective, providing individuals with the tools and support needed to overcome their addiction.

Support groups and hotlines offer additional encouragement and guidance, creating a sense of community among those trying to quit. It’s crucial to find a quit smoking strategy that works best for each individual. For some, e-cigarettes may be a useful tool in managing nicotine cravings and reducing dependence on traditional cigarettes.

Are electronic cigarettes harmful?

E-liquid does contain nicotine and is added to satisfy the cravings of smokers, but the danger of cigarette smoke isn’t from the nicotine, it’s all the other chemicals that really harm you. In a single cigarette there are over 4000 chemicals and 50 carcinogens, which are the real culprits for causing cancer (5).

Chemicals and toxic metals such as Arsenic, Formaldehyde and more cause a huge amount of damage to the smoker every day. More harmful substances are formed in the combustion process, like tar that sticks to the surface of your lungs, carbon monoxide that sticks to red blood cells in place of oxygen, and other chemicals known to be made from burning tobacco.

SMOKO E-cigarettes only contain main 4 ingredients, all of which are pharmaceutical grade and held to the high standards set out by the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) and the Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) as SMOKO liquids are made here in the UK!

Safety Concerns and Risks

While e-cigarettes may be less harmful than traditional tobacco cigarettes, they are not without risks. The long-term health effects of e-cigarette use are still not fully understood, and there are concerns about potential health problems, including lung disease and nicotine addiction. E-cigarettes do produce small amounts of toxic chemicals, such as heavy metals and ultrafine particles, which can be harmful to the lungs and other organs.

It's important to keep in mind that E-Cigarettes are 95% less harmful than regular cigarettes, according to Public Health England and the Royal College of Physicians. E-Cigarettes were designed as a harm reduction tool for smokers, and it's important to relate the potential harm from E-Cigarettes against the known, significant harm produced by smoking cigarettes. Despite this, a survey from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) found that around 40% of UK smokers wrongly believe that vaping is as harmful or worse than smoking! (6)

One of the main safety concerns behind E Cigarette use is actually the increase in youth and young adults who are vaping. You need to be over 18 in the UK to buy nicotine vapes, however the onslaught of disposable vapes has allowed a situation where youngsters are getting their hands on disposable vapes at an alarming rate. Nicotine has been shown to impact brain development by increasing the number of nicotine receptors in the brain, which also seems to translate to an increase in addictive behaviours, signalling strong reasons why it is so important to keep nicotine vapes away from young people.

What About The Negative Stories About Vaping?

You may have read the headlines declaring that e-cigarettes are as bad or worse than smoking, right next to headlines saying that e-cigarettes are great. It can be difficult to tell what is going on, especially as the media can’t seem to decide either.

As previously mentioned, e-cigarettes are at least 95% less harmful than cigarettes according to Public Health England, which is the government body which studies large scale health issues for the UK. The NHS also suggests e-cigarettes as a better alternative to smoking, with some hospitals in the UK opening vape shops on site.

So why do the media keep saying e-cigarettes are bad if they are so much better than cigarettes?

It comes down to where the e-cigarettes and the e-liquids are coming from. Since 2016 when regulations came in, UK made e-liquids have to be tested and quality controlled before they are allowed to be sold. The amount of nicotine is controlled and all the e-liquid has to be lab tested to make sure there is nothing in there that can harm you.

If you get your e-cigarette or e-liquid from a reputable source then, you can be sure that they only contain the 4 ingredients needed. If you buy from the local market stall, then it is not quite so certain.

And this is what happened in America. Due to very lax regulations on e-liquids the black and grey market exploded, and the US e-cigarette market was flooded with cheap and homemade e-liquid. Sadly some of these homemade liquids had dangerous chemicals in, and caused significant harm to a number of individuals.

E-Cigarette and Vaping Associated Lung Injury - EVALI

The main culprit for this harm is a chemical called vitamin e acetate. This was being used to mix illicit substances like THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis) into e-liquids, assumingly by people who really didn't know any better. This new phenomenon known as EVALI (E-Cigarette and Vaping Associated Lung Injuries) has largely been attributed to vitamin e acetate, according to the Centres for Disease control and Prevention (CDC). (7)

This, along with questionable marketing tactics that targeted children, led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banning all flavour E-Cigarettes apart from tobacco and menthol flavours! (8)

If you are at all worried about what is in your e-cigarette, make sure that you buy from a UK made source and you can be sure that it has been tested and approved!

The Risk Of Popcorn Lung

There is another form of lung injury that the newspapers would have you worrying over with regard to vaping - and that is the condition 'popcorn lung'. First discovered in popcorn factories where workers were exposed to large amounts of a chemical called 'diacetyl', this condition is scientifically known as 'bronchiolitis obliterans'.

Just to calm any worries, there hasn't been any instances of popcorn lung related to vaping. While it may be found in e-liquids made elsewhere, diacetyl is prohibited as an ingredient for UK-made e-liquids, and the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) and Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) as it's known to be harmful when inhaled in large quantities. 

Choosing the Right E-Cigarette for You

With a wide variety of e-cigarette brands and models available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. It’s important to consider factors such as the type of e-cigarette, the strength of nicotine in the e-liquid, and the device’s safety features. Rechargeable e-cigarettes are generally more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than disposable ones.

When selecting an e-liquid, ensure it is free from harmful chemicals and follow proper safety precautions when using the device. Consulting with a healthcare professional or a specialist vape shop can provide valuable insights and help individuals make informed decisions. By choosing the right e-cigarette, users can enhance their chances of successfully quitting smoking and improving their overall health.

So What's The Best E-Cigarette Starter Kit For Me?

Our SMOKO e-cigarette starter kits are ideal for smokers starting out of the smoke-free journey. E-cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products due to their nicotine content, which means they must adhere to specific safety standards. With pre-filled refills there is no messy refilling of a tank, just screw a refill onto the battery. Once you have finished with the refills take it off and put a new one on.

We designed our e-cigarette to be as simple and cigarette like as possible, so making the switch from cigarettes to e-cigarettes as easy as possible. The new SMOKO VAPE MAX is just as easy to use and contains our great tasting liquids!

We proudly make all our e-liquids in the UK, and have been for over 8 years. We make sure that all our e-liquids are tested above and beyond current laws so you can be sure of what you are vaping. Make the switch with SMOKO today!

*2025 Update - You can now try any SMOKO Starter Kit FREE when you purchase one box of refills!

REFERENCES

(1) Making health habitual: the psychology of ‘habit-formation’ and general practice

(2) Tobacco In Australia: Additives that increase the addictiveness of tobacco products

(3) Pharmacokinetics of freebase nicotine and nicotine salts following subcutaneous administration in male rats

(4) NHS - Using e-cigarettes to stop smoking

(5) Harmful Chemicals in Tobacco Products

(6) Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

(7) FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Written by Dan Overgage 

Dan Overgage is a former smoker of 10 years until he became a client of SMOKO E-Cigarettes.  Dan started working with SMOKO 5 years ago after successfully quitting using our e-cigarettes and works across our Customer Service and heads up our content creation and research with a strong focus on all things quitting smoking.  During his tenure with SMOKO, Dan has written countless blogs and consults with countless clients every day to help them to stay smoke-free.