Continuing with the xmas theme of over-drinking...

If i drink enough wine, I usally start to feel very sleepy, after more wine, I start to get a headache..Why is this? What might the component of the wine be that causes this??

I rarely ever catch a cold, norovirus or other common contagious diseases and always thought that I seem to have a good immune system. I do occasionally get a scratchy throat or a queasy feeling in my stomach for a couple of hours but that's about it.

However, a while ago I read that the symptoms of the common cold are caused by a person's immune response and not by the virus. So maybe my immune system isn't so good after all but actually rather lousy? BTW, I am also a smoker.

Can watching too much television increase the risk of memory loss? If so, How much is too much? And what causes this?

i have recently switched to smoking 'rollies' from regular cigarettes. i originally used standard green papers but on the recommendation of a fellow smoker began using blue or silver papers. despite the blue and silver papers having less paper (you can taste the difference), sliver papers burn the slowest, with blue coming next and then green burning fastest. why? also, although obviously smoking is bad for you, are there any health benefits associated with; the switch to 'rollies' (i previously smoked mayfair smooth, i now smoke drum mild and use filters), or the switch from green papers to blue or silver ones?

Since my 20s, I have drunk on average a bottle of wine a day. I'm now 57. That's 49 UK alcohol units a week. The UK's recommended weekly limit for a man is 28 units.

I recently had a complete health check at my local clinic, and I'm in perfect health. Specifically, my liver function tests are entirely normal. Am I exceptional or are the government limits spurious?

I rarely drink spirits and occasionally substitute beer for wine. I play football and squash. I walk 3 kilometres to and from work. I lead a normal life and, probably due to regular consumption, I never feel drunk, but presumably I am considered a binge or problem drinker.

I don't want advice from a government minister or associated medic. I want objective information. Am I just lucky? Or is my consumption relatively harmless? What's the truth?

David Hunte, London, UK

A UK unit is 10 millilitres (8 grams) of alcohol - Ed

Hello,

Inquiry:

From my ancestors, story goes, that after a lightning storm, they would search for rocks from lightning strikes up in the mountains. These rocks, almost completely round, would be used as a health benefit. That is, they would be put in a glass of water, the rock would supposedly "fizz", and they would drink this as a health tonic.

Is there any substance to this, or is it an "old wives tale"?

Thank you,

Stergios Vlioras

P.O. Box 43055,

Burnaby, B.C.

V5G 4S2

ph# 778-837-3405