Buzz or not to Buzz

[gt3911]

Yes, very interesting indeed. I consider myself as a lightweight. Which has resulted in my choice to enjoy milder, small sticks more frequently, as overall I get more enjoyment. I do have stronger and larger cigars in my stash, which I only go to if I feel up to a long session that I've prepared myself for with a good meal before hand. As long as I'm concious of the qualities of my cigars then I can ensure I select an appropriate one for the occasion, it doesn't bother me at all.

FWIW I don't smoke cigarettes and never have, I don't smoke cigars as frequently as many on here do. I'm also an alcohol lightweight, for me, it's just the same - Knowing my limitations to stay on the right side of the experience, enjoyment rather than sickness. If I've had little to eat, I don't decide to take on a pint of absinthe, equally I'd avoid something like an LFD Double Ligero.

As for going to see a GP - hmm, I'm pretty sure my GP would tell me to just stop smoking, don't they always?!

[captain duff]

As for going to see a GP - hmm, I'm pretty sure my GP would tell me to just stop smoking, don't they always?!

Yeah, although a surprisingly high percentage seem to smoke themselves

In amongst all of this there probably is a genuine issue of individual reactions to the nicotine that go beyond a tolerance build up of regular smokers or a straightforward body weight/mass calculation of the effects. If you take alcohol again, it has always been the case that some people get drunk a lot quicker than others, and that this goes beyond body size in relation to the amount of measures drunk. In fact, it has long been known that a great many Japanese people have real problems when it comes to getting drunk quickly (although maybe problem is a wrong word given they must save a fortune on bar bills). Scientists then discovered that this was caused by a gene that meant that it was naturally impossible for these people to drink regular quantities of alcohol without getting drunk quickly. That gene is not confined to Japan, effectively it is a mutation that can spring up anywhere, but it predominates within the Japanese population that for many hundreds of years until the late 19th century was closed off and became an isolated gene pool which allowed certain gene mutations to take hold and not get swallowed up into a larger population.

So if this can happen in relation to a natural tolerance (or lack of it) for one drug, I wouldn't be suprised if it is the case for others too in terms of an individuals genetic make up...

[r0lan6]

Any GP, hospital doctor, hospital nurse, practice nurse, pharmacist and any other clinical professional will tell any one of us, if we presented ourselves to them, to quit smoking. It is of course their professional duty of care to do so. My point is that certain physiological problems can be a sign of bigger problems that may need investigating. It is easy for us to talk about metabolism, genetics, lifestyle, etc. But they are (including my own) individual views, be they backed with experience and/or knowledge or research. The latter of course is debatable as to how valid and reliable they actually are.

I do concur with all opinions raised, including the comprehensive arguments asserted by Cpt Duff. Certainly a very interesting thread!