Hypoxemia Or Nicotine?

[The Caterpillar]

So I work in an emergency room here in Salt Lake and invited some coworkers to smoke. One of the people happened to be a respiratory therapist.

Just to floor them, I packed a bowl of Nak so the unwashed buzz would impress them. I invited them to take huge rips.
He definitely felt it but brought up a good question:
How much of the dizziness and lightheadedness is actually from hypoxemia (lack of oxygen) and how much is from the nicotine itself?

I searched the forums for oxygen/air/hypoxemia and didn't find what I needed (I know now that "SEARCH IT" is one of the first responses on a new thread, so hopefully I covered my ass).

[Arcane]

that's a good question...i know the nicotine can contribute a lot, but it really depends on the person.

my friend who doesn't smoke hookah, takes one or two pulls from Nak or Tangiers and is buzzed to shit. I doubt hypoxemia (cool word, heh!) would play a role in that scenario.

while myself, who until recently, never got buzzed would have to take rip after rip to feel something. in this scenario, i bet it was lack of oxygen or slight CO poisoning that gave me that lightheaded/headachey feeling...

[Frankay]

i'm still getting that buzz after 3years with the Nakhla =\ loll

[Vladimir]

Nicotine. Ask any chewer.

/ love my chaw Edited June 26, 2009 by Vladimir

[EvansLight]

The buzz itself is from the nicotine, but the initial rush and tingle in your head is lack-o-o2. Since its so smooth, you tend to pull quite a bit into your lungs, and most people keep hittin it and hittin it non-stop. Because were technically smoking mainly vapors, its a more efficient nicotine delivery system then cigg's if i had to guess, hence the one or two hits and "woah" feeling. I always tell new smokers to pop a squat when they come to the first session with me.


Thats how I see it, at least in my little world. But i make up the rules in it so trust me as far as you can throw me. Who here can chunk 330lbs?

[Santino]

I really think both would cause this honestly.. it's really how people define their "buzz."

[Sonthert]

Its a combination of each, depending on what type of charcoal you use. It can also be caused by the same chemical process that causes dizziness from too much caffeine/drop in blood sugar. At least thats a theory.

[EvansLight]

Its a combination of each, depending on what type of charcoal you use. It can also be caused by the same chemical process that causes dizziness from too much caffeine/drop in blood sugar. At least thats a theory.

In practice this theory holds water. Many a time has a good burst of sugar saved a smoker from certain praying to a certain porcelain god.

[PhxKarma]

I wish cigs gave you the same feeling, I would smoke them!

[Stuie]

...does it really matter which it is?

hehehe It's not Hypoxemia for me. I don't get a buzz much unless I take a few days off.

[Hookie The Hookah]

Hypoxemia with washed, Nicotine with unwashed? I take more/bigger hits with unwashed shisha and tend to get a headrush, but with unwashed stuff I usually have a clear nicotine buzz.