Defining Throat Kick

[Kate]

A while ago Leaford started a poll to ask about what we meant when we said 'throat kick' because many of us seem to be talking about different things. Well into that poll I found some research that suggested another definition that hadn't been considered so I'm starting a new poll to see if there is any agreement.



Here's a definition of throat hit from tobacco industry researchers:

The sensory attribute most associated with nicotine is described within the company as 'impact' . It may be described by consumers as throat catch, throat hit, throat grip, etc. Our definition of impact is : the sudden sharp but short-lived sensation (typically less than one second in duration) which is noticed immediately the smoke makes contact with the back of the throat . A physiological explanation of the impact sensation is that nicotine causes smooth muscle to contract . The contraction is proportional to the dose of nicotine applied to it. In fact, the relationship between the applied dose and the magnitude of the contraction is logarithmic, but for all practical purposes, the more nicotine the stronger the contraction and hence the impact sensation.

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/guildford/pdf/bat/122/00012275.pdf

 

[Tone]

So I guess its not a bruce lee move???

 

[wv2win]

Hey, Kate, I wanted to click both the 2nd and third option as I sense both are a correct description.

Another option could be: Vaping a Screwdriver, lol.

 

[Iken]

I have to agree with "Sharp, short-lived sensation as nicotine causes smooth muscle in the back of the throat to contract."
I personally think the words "Throat kick/hit" sounds disgusting heh. I refer to it as "Actual feel" Because thats pretty much exactly what it is. The actual feel/sensation of an analog/smoke hitting the back of the throat and the feel of the density upon exhaling.

 

[dumwaldo]

It is just feeling something in the back of the throat. In some cases it is a smooth feeling and in some cases it is a harsh feeling. The same goes for analog cigarettes. A marlboro red will give a harsh throat hit while a newport will give a smooth throat hit.

I think trying to define the term in a way that is discounts one over the other is silly. Any feeling in the back of the throat would be throat hit.

DW

 

[leaford]

A while ago Leaford started a poll to ask about what we meant when we said 'throat kick' because many of us seem to be talking about different things. Well into that poll I found some research that suggested another definition that hadn't been considered so I'm starting a new poll to see if there is any agreement.



Here's a definition of throat hit from tobacco industry researchers:

The sensory attribute most associated with nicotine is described within the company as 'impact' . It may be described by consumers as throat catch, throat hit, throat grip, etc. Our definition of impact is : the sudden sharp but short-lived sensation (typically less than one second in duration) which is noticed immediately the smoke makes contact with the back of the throat . A physiological explanation of the impact sensation is that nicotine causes smooth muscle to contract . The contraction is proportional to the dose of nicotine applied to it. In fact, the relationship between the applied dose and the magnitude of the contraction is logarithmic, but for all practical purposes, the more nicotine the stronger the contraction and hence the impact sensation.

http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/guildford/pdf/bat/122/00012275.pdf

Interesting to see that they're groping for phrases to describe what we all can clearly feel, too. So it's not just us having a hard time describing it.

But for my part I've given up trying to define it. Too many people will have an emotional connotation with whatever words we use. If I describe it as harsh, but you don't think of it as harsh , it doesn't matter that you and I are talking about the same feeling, to you it's not harsh, so you will never agree with that definition.

But we all can agree that "throat kick" exists, we can all agree that certain liquids and devices have more of it than others, so in this case the vague undefined term is more useful than a more precise definition.

 

[Spikey]

I agree.. 2nd and 3rd option for me...

 

[Elendil]

It's like the quote from Justice Stewart:

"I can't define it, but I know it when I see it"

 

[GrimmGreen]

i once believed it was from the nicotine , but i have been getting a good throat hit/kick from some very low nic juice...

 

[LuckySevens4U]

i once believed it was from the nicotine , but i have been getting a good throat hit/kick from some very low nic juice...

Elaborate please......would love to know...Is it the device you are using?

 

[leaford]

I'm feling a bit less obstinate right now, so I'll at least try to go along with the poll as given.

I find that strength, flavor, and device can all affect it, so at least with e-cigs, I disagree that it's purely the effect of the nicotine. Otherwise, I think the third definition is probably the best description of the sensation. SO, that's my vote.

 

[GrimmGreen]

Elaborate please......would love to know...Is it the device you are using?

i have some 6mg 555 that i was using in my Yeti (510) that knocked my socks off , and some 15mg cigar juice in my 901 that i cant vape because the hit is TO strong , i'm waiting to cut it down with some flavorless juice

 

[LuckySevens4U]

It would just be so cool to find that one device and that one juice with 0 nic that would give a throat hit for those that want to get off the nic in the end.

 

[laynies]

I think throat hit is rather hard to describe. When you smoke an analog you know what it is. The difference between a Marlboro red and a Carlton. With the e-cigs it's harder. I can get what I think is a throat hit on both my 901 and the 510 Yeti. Something in the vapor that tells you that you are getting more than just air. I picked number 2 because I don't really feel a constriction but more that I'm inhaling something substantial. I can feel it when I vape 555 11mg and 4mg, I can feel it when I vape RY4 36mg. I don't feel it so much when vaping PS Cola 11mg. Again, just a really hard thing to pin down.

 

[EbenezerScrews]

2 and 3, but I voted 2.

I don't think dripping to the back of my throat would give me the "throat kick" I am looking for, haha.

I do feel, and enjoy, the constriction from the nicotine.

Eb

 

[ISAWHIM]

Nicotine has nothing to do with it...

It is the water, flavoring, PG and VG irritation... (I get the same, "Hit", with non-nicotine.)

That is why I stopped inhaling, and it went away. (So it can't be the nicotine, or you would get the same reaction chewing gum, or with the nasal spray, or with the patch.)

In a cigarette, it is the ammonia, formaldehyde, and PG which contributes mostly to the irritation and throat feeling. (Formaldehyde softens, thickens or smooths the feeling as an anesthetic and preservative.)

Throat hit, to me... is the immediate and after feeling combined... (Long-term) after a drag/puff. (But this comes from years of smoking marijuana, which also contains ammonia and formaldehyde, along with various other chemicals that create the "harsh hit" felt in the throat, as it is commonly referred to. I don't recall ever saying that a cigarette had a "hit", until I began vaping.)

I felt it in my lungs, with an uncomfortable thickness, at first. But that may have been attributed to the continual and extensive damage my lungs have endured over the years of smoking. Perhaps when I am all healed-up, it may not be as noticeable, or it will be even more noticeable. (Again, why I stopped inhaling into my lungs. It works the same for me, no matter what. I get my "Fix", without the additional potential undesired risk.)

Since "Irritation" and "Harshness" is not normally a selling point, as it is normally associated with "Bad" and "Danger" and "Harm"... I have to wonder why it matters, what it actually is? Rather... why it matters what we think it is...

Ok, that was my survey response for today.

Is this going in some kind of e-cig slang dictionary for newbs? Perhaps you may want to mention all of the above, as the definition. Though one would rightfully assume that "Throat hit" or "Throat kick", was a hit/kick in the throat. (As opposed to a tickle on the toe.)

 

[dumwaldo]

That is why I stopped inhaling, and it went away. (So it can't be the nicotine, or you would get the same reaction chewing gum, or with the nasal spray, or with the patch.)

Smoke any of the above three and I will bet a dollar against a dime that you get a wicked throat hit.

 

[Vapinginjapan]

Haha, smoking nicorette gum. That's rich.

At any rate, I think one important thing that's in the original post is that the reaction is logarithmic. This means that the relationship between the throat hit and the nicotine is non linear.

This could mean one of two things.

Either, 2x as much nicotine could produced more than 2x as much kick.

Or 2x as much nicotine could produce less than 2x as much kick.

For example, if you're using an 11mg liquid, and you step up to a 24, you could get significantly more than double, or significantly less than double the throat kick.

I also think that heat is a contributing factor. Perhaps heat 'enables' the nicotine to cause the contraction, or it in itself causes the contraction.

At any rate, i'd be quite interested to hear people's opinion. Perception wise, does doubling the nicotine double the throat kick?

It also might be a perception deal also, for instance, with sound pressure, a 3db increase doubles the amount of sound energy in the air, but we don't have a noise that's perceptivley twice as loud. We need to step up significantly past twice the pressure (I believe doubling of percieved sound is every 10DB)

It would make sense that the 'logarithmic' nature of throat hit might be due to a similar phenomenon, where one might require 4x as much nicotine to achieve double the throat kick. Or perhaps 50% more to double the throat kick, if the throat is especially sensitive to nicotine.

Okay, rambling done.

 

[prr2freya]

Both 2 and 3 but I chose 2 in the poll.

 

[cyberwolf]

I ticked the "sharp, short lived" button, but I do think it can have to do with other factors, among them temperature. AMong several devices I have notice that some can produce a larger volume of vapor, but less kick. The only other factor I can see is how hot the vapor is when it hits the throat.