A new alternative to e-cigarettes is growing in popularity

Who knows, it could be the stepping stone in you giving up for good.

There's a new device that looks similar to the e-cigarette but is beginning to grow in popularity. The heat-not-burn device or HNB has become a new alternative to e-cigarettes and experts are saying that this trend is only set to increase. HNB devices work by gently heating the tobacco to 260 degrees Celsius temperature which in turn, creates a tobacco like vapour which is the result of heating tobacco rather than burning it, where temperatures reach around 600-800 degrees Celsius. According to Dr John Ayers, an associate research professor at the San Diego State University, they are becoming more popular because they appeal to smokers who are quitting but still demand the 'throat-hit' sensation which is delivered by a regular cigarette but not by most e-cigarettes. A study by Ayers and his team discovered that although HNB devices are currently only available to buy in a handful of places around the world, their findings showed a huge surge in demand for the heat-not-burn devices – rising by 2,956% in two years from 2015 to 2017. The study’s co-author, Professor Mark Dredze from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said: "This [study] suggests that as heat-not-burn tobacco is introduced in new markets, its popularity may even eclipse e-cigarettes.” Here's a look at the product. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikbskn9gdeA However, HNB devices have been proven to contain nicotine which is an addictive substance and the HNB devices are not completely risk-free, much like the e-cigarette. Furthermore, Dr Reto Auer, of the University of Bern, has stated that there's isn't enough information about smoking heat-not-burn cigarettes. He believes that their use should be restricted in the meantime. In his study on HNB devices, harmful chemicals were present and he said that more studies were needed to find out if they were safe for use. "We need more studies to find out about the health consequences. Some of these chemicals may contribute to the high mortality rate of smokers," he said.