You’ve probably seen the faint blue or green glow around your favourite restaurants and bars. Or perhaps you’ve smelt the sweet fragrance around public areas. Yes, of course, we’re talking about e-cigarettes; the latest attempt to curb and reduce real smoking. Debate has raged between scientists and doctors over these electronic devices. Are they actually any better for your health? Well, most doctors have now admitted to the many benefits of e-cigarettes over traditional cigarettes. It’s a fact backed up by overwhelming public opinion.

According to new statistics, e-cigarettes and vapour use is rising rapidly. As a direct result, the number of traditional smokers are decreasing. That’s great news for health experts and the general public. We spoke to a number of doctors to find out why this phenomenon was occurring. What are the real benefits of e-cigarettes, and are they a long-term solution?

The first, and overwhelming response was praise for their safety. When it comes to health concerns, vapours and e-cigarettes are much less harmful to our health. There are no toxins, carcinogens, or tar inside them, which instantly makes them healthier. Users are no longer inhaling dangerous chemicals. Of course, these vapours are not completely free of problems. They do still contain nicotine, which is addictive and causes mood swings. It can also bring on heart problems. As for the long-term effects, the experts are divided. As e-cigarettes are such a new phenomenon, there is no reliable data on the overall health-effects.

The other huge draw of ‘vaping’ is the cost. Thanks to tax rises, the cost of traditional cigarettes has rocketed. E-cigarettes, on the other hand, are much cheaper. That’s because you only need to buy the equipment once. After that, you simply top it up with new vapours or recharge the batteries. You can even buy box mods to regulate the power and battery life of your vapes. Over time, you’ll save a fortune by ditching real cigarettes, and turning to e-cigs instead.

Not only are they better for your respiratory health, they also remove the awful side-effects of smoking. With traditional cigarettes, you’re left with yellow fingertips, poor dental health, and a repugnant odour. E-cigarettes make sure these associated problems don’t materialise. The only smell they give off is a fruity fragrance of your choosing.

E-cigarettes are now even prescribed by doctors to addicts looking to make a change. It’s a good halfway house without giving up entirely. Going ‘cold-turkey’ is very dangerous, and the chance of falling back into old habits is high. With e-cigarettes, you can regulate the amount of nicotine, and slowly lower your intake. Over time, you can phase out the device altogether, and give up smoking entirely. Giving up in stages is much more effective than stopping immediately. It also feeds that need to hold something between your fingers.

Finally, there’s the social aspect. We asked e-cigarette users what they liked most about it. The unanimous response was that they could finally smoke inside again, among friends. It’s clear that e-cigarettes are here to stay, and they’re doing great things for our health.