Nicotine Sensitivity as I Age

[jerry]

Hello friends! I just had my 72 birthday, and I am just BEGINNING to "feel" old ... or "older." Not that this is a huge disappointment, I understand that growing older is one of the few guarantees. So, I am a very long time pipe smoker. In the past, smoking a bowl for over an hour was routine. Generally, I have two pipes a day, one in the morning with coffee, the other in the late afternoon, also with coffee. Now, even with low nicotine blends, I'm getting weird headaches after about 45 minutes. Has my capacity for nicotine changed? I think so. Anyone else experience this sort of thing?

Kindest regards from Western Massachusetts,
Jerry

 

[makhorkasmoker]

For me it’s not the nicotine but flavorings and additives that create headaches. Low nicotine blends with vanilla flavorings especially make me feel ill. If I do feel bad from too much nicotine, it’s a different kind of bad—not a headache

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I have never gotten a headache from nicotine. Mostly, nicotine sensitivity comes in the form of draining stored sugars in your blood, and tends to make one nauseous and gives you the spins, till you get a bite of something with sugar in it.
It could be just smoking in general giving you the headaches or something else might be going on.

If it's not giving you pleasure, then just stop. That's my $0.02

 

[cosmicfolklore]

For me it’s not the nicotine but flavorings and additives that create headaches. Low nicotine blends with vanilla flavorings especially make me feel ill. If I do feel bad from too much nicotine, it’s a different kind of bad—not a headache

Good call... That is why I avoid aromatics like the plague

 

[jerry]

I have never gotten a headache from nicotine. Mostly, nicotine sensitivity comes in the form of draining stored sugars in your blood, and tends to make one nauseous and gives you the spins, till you get a bite of something with sugar in it.
It could be just smoking in general giving you the headaches or something else might be going on.

If it's not giving you pleasure, then just stop. That's my $0.02

I appreciate that.

 

[BingBong]

It's the Schumann Resonance or something, you might need three bowls a day.

 

[Auxsender]

I understand that growing older is one of the few guarantees.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Any of us could drop dead today.

If I were experiencing headaches like you are, I would seek a trusted doctor’s advice.

 

[Auxsender]

It's the Schumann Resonance or something, you might need three bowls a day.

I had to look that up. Fascinating!

 

[The Benedictine]

Nothing could be further from the truth. Any of us could drop dead today.

If I were experiencing headaches like you are, I would seek a trusted doctor’s advice.

I second a doctor. Nicotine constricts blood vessels so that may be a cause.

 

[RPK]

Jerry,
At 11 years older than you I think that yes your body's capacity for nicotine might have changed. It goes without saying that as we age our bodies change. Your body might be telling you it can’t tolerate as much nicotine as it used so, I’d start with.

1 ~ If you inhale, which I don’t, cut back on that a bit to see if that helps.
2 ~ Cut back on the 1 hour smoke to maybe ½ hour.
3 ~ Try some tobaccos that are very mild.
4~ Enjoy each and every day as you and I are blessed to be at our ages.

 

[Kobold]

Are you prone to getting headaches? Either way I would seek out a doctor about this.

 

[WVOldFart]

I know I have mentioned this before, but sinuses are a big part of smoking. Your sense of smell influences your taste buds. This is also ragweed season so your sinuses might be full or irritated, giving you headaches.

 

[The Benedictine]

I know I have mentioned this before, but sinuses are a big part of smoking. Your sense of smell influences your taste buds. This is also ragweed season so your sinuses might be full or irritated, giving you headaches.

Ragweed is a bane on the sinuses.

 

[anotherbob]

Nothing could be further from the truth. Any of us could drop dead today.

If I were experiencing headaches like you are, I would seek a trusted doctor’s advice.

I'd certainly suggest getting a doctors opinion on it. I don't think it's nicotine sensitivity at all. If anything it might be aggravating something else. Which could be next to nothing or the beginning of something really worth finding out about now instead of when it happens latter.

 

[jerry]

I'd certainly suggest getting a doctors opinion on it. I don't think it's nicotine sensitivity at all. If anything it might be aggravating something else. Which could be next to nothing or the beginning of something really worth finding out about now instead of when it happens latter.

That is a good point. Thanks!

 

[jpberg]

Jerry, what blends do you smoke?

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I always say this when threads like this are posted, but if you are taking any new medications that can be a cause for this.

I've been through it.

Talking to your doctor about how you can't smoke like you want will probably go over like a turd in the punch bowl.

It shouldn't be like that but it is...

Your doctor will say you have adverse reactions to smoking because "SMOKING IS BAD."

 

[The Benedictine]

I always say this when threads like this are posted, but if you are taking any new medications that can be a cause for this.

I've been through it.

Talking to your doctor about how you can't smoke like you want will probably go over like a turd in the punch bowl.

It shouldn't be like that but it is...

Your doctor will say you have adverse reactions to smoking because "SMOKING IS BAD."

My new doctor doesn't see a problem with me smoking. I've been smoking since I was 14 and he said I have very clear lungs. He even asked if I really did smoke.

 

[anotherbob]

That is a good point. Thanks!

I'd bet it's nothing but even if it is. Better to find out and not get headaches. I had some serious bad headaches a while ago and found out why eventually and wish I would have earlier. No major health concerns but still was good to find out how to stop getting them.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

My new doctor doesn't see a problem with me smoking. I've been smoking since I was 14 and he said I have very clear lungs. He even asked if I really did smoke.

Yeah, there are exceptions.

It's a lucky thing to find a doctor like that. You better hold on to him.