Hookah Headache...

[Bennny]

Lately my friends and I have been getting really bad headaches after smoking. We have been smoking almost everyday for over a month now. Anybody know the reason for this?

[Santino]

Did you not eat before you smoke?

[Hojo]

Are you smoking shisha that is dyed? For instance, most if not all Al Fakher is colored red. The dye doesn't react well with some people.

Also, try drinking water while smoking, since nicotine dehydrates you.

If there are other remedies, I want to know them, because I got a massive headache the other night, and I tend to if I smoke for longer than ~1.5 hours. Edited October 14, 2008 by Hojo

[staygone]

Tobacco, coals, hookah, other information stat.

We need info dude,

Lack of O2, excess CO, CO2, & CH3COH could be the culprit.

-QM Edited October 14, 2008 by QuiltedMaple

[hookah hippie]

could be a lack of oxygen you are getting when you smoke

[srawas89]

yea def. need more info esp. on what coals and tobacco you use. A friend of mine recently got hit bad with CO poisoning from smoking cuz the coals we were using did not light properly (it was 3kings quick lights, and dont be too alarmed by the CO poisoning it was a headache and some nausea) normally the coals do fine but I just didnt light em well. Anyway the issue could be not lighting your coals properly or smoking a brand of tobacco that is much stronger than you are used to such as smoking nakhla or tangiers when you normally smoke Al Fakher. Nakhla and tangiers are def unwashed tobacco so nicotine hits you really hard which can cause an overdose in nicotine which causes headaches, sweating, a feel of clamminess (at least thats what happened to me). Also if you are taking really deep hits right after the other it could cause your headaches.

[Bennny]

Well i usually switch it up a bit for the coals. But I mainly use the quick lights. As for the tobacco I use Al Fakher - all different kinds of flavors. I will throw in some fantasia once in a while. As for my hookah of preference - a small single hose pumpkin hookah

forgot to mention: usually my friends and I take multiple hits in a row. Probably between 5 and 10. So my main guess would be a lack of oxygen... Edited October 14, 2008 by Bennny

[Lysolz]

It's that whack ass pumpkin hookah!

[Apets22]

Drink a bottle of water with every set of coals.
Make sure your QL are fully red before smoking them, and dont light them on the bowl, light them in the ash tray.
Food before is helpful, but not always the cluprit.
Its proven that sitting in one place for a long amount of time on its own will cause a headache, if you feel one coming on, set down the hose for 5 minutes and walk around, switch seats, something.

If you do get a headache, the only thing Ive found the helps it is Excedrine Migrane. Its the best, Ive tried tylenol, aleve, and other over the counter acetometaphins, its the only one that works, and it works fast.

EDIT: Also snacking during your session helps as well.
EDIT 2: I also found it quicker and easier to get your QLs fully red by lighting them on the stove, if you access to one. If you dont, light them in the ash tray and wait 3-5 minutes before putting them on. Edited October 14, 2008 by Apets22

[srawas89]

quick reply to apex's comment, instead of waiting so long for hte ql's to light hold them firmly in the tongs and swing your wrist back and forth to get some air circulation on those coals, either that or blow on the coals but I prefer swinging my wrist since when I blow on them I tend to get sparks on my hand and arm....not fun, and be careful not to squeeze too hard on the tongs while swinging your wrist as it may break the coal and thats not good esp. if you have carpet where you smoke.

[Heelie]

I would be scared a coal would come loose and set a hookah buddy on fire or something.

[shishasmoke1904]

make sure your hookah is cleaned out completely that may be it

[Bennny]

make sure your hookah is cleaned out completely that may be it

Well I somewhat clean it after every time I use it. I dont use soap or anything, just run water through the hookah and use a towel to scrub off any extra stuff on it.

[Apets22]

quick reply to apex's comment, instead of waiting so long for hte ql's to light hold them firmly in the tongs and swing your wrist back and forth to get some air circulation on those coals, either that or blow on the coals but I prefer swinging my wrist since when I blow on them I tend to get sparks on my hand and arm....not fun, and be careful not to squeeze too hard on the tongs while swinging your wrist as it may break the coal and thats not good esp. if you have carpet where you smoke.

Im assuming your talking about me. But yes, that does work. Ive cracked coals in half and had coals fly out doing that. It does work fine, but it also can destroy carpets. Waiting a few minutes isnt that big of a deal as far as Im concerend, but its your call.

And my hookah being clean really doesnt effect anything headache wise. It can give you a wierd flavor, but I dont see how it could give one a headache. Its basically just dried molasses. Edited October 14, 2008 by Apets22

[srawas89]

True it is your own personal preference when on how you make your coal red hot on the bottom its just that I normally smoke on surfaces that do not burn as easily as carpet...outside, on tile, asphalt stuff like that. Also just thought of another alternative to making the coals red hot and quick. My parents recently got a long handle torch lighter and I lit some quick lights using that lighter and man was it beautiful....red hot underside in seconds and it started the entire coal immediately. I have started coals with a normal torch lighter but its too close to the quick lights that you end up burning your self from the sparks that come off when it is lighting. Hope this helps to reduce the occurrence of the sudden headache cuz it seems that it most probably is a coal that was not light all the way.

[slingham]

I was getting bad headaches a little while ago and I changed coals and haven't had any problems since. Just my two cents.

[erufiku]

Yup, I would change coals as well.
Also, I noticed that it really depends on the type of baccy you smoke. AF seems to mess me up (food dye?) while I can smoke tangiers for hours and just feel a slight buzz. Anise flavors always give me a headache if I smoke too long, with the notable exception of Nakhla DA.

I'd try different baccy and coals, should solve the problem. Also, how clean is your hose? I haven't heard anything about a dirty hose being the cause of a headache, but if you got water in an unwashable hose, there might be some gunk in it that could give you a headache...

[glz88]

Several issues here it could be CO poisoning. It can cause mild headaches and nausea but tobacco itself can cause nicotine poisoning and i've known several people with weak constitutions to nicotine to get a really bad headache after they smoked hookah. If you eat before hand it might strengthen your constituion but check your coals and if it continues you might want to stop...especially since this isn't pubmed

[*Veritas*]

I use to have the same thing happen to me back when i started smoking. I have two things to give you advice on.

1. Change to a natural type coal. Less chemical and less taste. Harder to light but if you have a stove available you will get use to it.

2. you said you and your friends take multiple hits fast. you need to space out your hits more and breath inbetween each one. I usually take 2-3 hits in about a 4 minute time and then pass the hose to a friend. that way i know that i have enough oxygen entering my lungs to keep the pounding head away. hookah shouldnt be something you have to rush. Take your time and socialize while smoking. No point in sucking your brains out and getting a headache later.

Both of those changes help me avoid the headache issue. although sometimes i still get a little carried away if i smoke alone and take to much with out enough breaths inbetween.

[Codename067]

Take more pauses between hits..get enough oxygen in your system.

[ToncSTAR]

i used to get that when all i knew about was Al-Waha shisha. shit always made me have a headache.

but what i used to do before was take an advil maybe 5 mins before i start setting everything up. then proceed as usual, worked for me.