Safe e-cigarettes? Too good to be true

They are known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, or called vaporizers or just vapes. They are electronic vaporization systems that turn a nicotine solution into a fine, heated mist. Users puff on them like a regular cigarette, and within a few seconds, the nicotine reaches the brain, giving them a "hit" of the stimulant.

First developed in China in 2004, e-cigarettes are rapidly gaining popularity. Manufacturers claim e-cigarettes are a safe alternative and an effective treatment for those trying to quit smoking. These claims are another smokescreen.

Inhalation is the quickest way to deliver highly addictive and harmful nicotine to the brain. Nicotine then causes, among other things, blood vessels to constrict, which can trigger a heart attack or a stroke. Unlike licensed forms of nicotine replacement therapy, nicotine inhaled through an e-cigarette is un-metered and its dosage uncontrolled.