Some turn to Zyn nicotine pouches as a “safe alternative” to cigarettes and vapes. Nicotine pouches contain powder instead of a tobacco leaf. They are placed between the gums and the cheek, with no spitting involved.

Although Zyn may lower the risk of cancer-causing chemicals found in other types of tobacco products, the highly addictive nicotine contained in them may pose a risk for heart disease. Some users complain of things like tightness in the chest and palpitations. Other risks may become apparent with further research.

Heart Effects of Zyn Pouches

The nicotine in Zyn pouches is not only highly addictive but also can cause a host of other issues, including heart-related problems such as:

• Raised blood pressure
• Narrowing of arteries
• Increased heart rate
• Hardening of the blood vessel walls (atherosclerosis) that blocks blood flow from the heart, potentially leading to a heart attack

Who Is Most at Risk?

While anyone using Zyn pouches can experience heart-related health complications, it’s important to know that some people may be particularly at risk.

Those who are already at cardiovascular risk may want to take extra care. Some evidence shows that those who use smokeless tobacco products like Zyn pouches may be at modest risk of having a fatal stroke or heart attack.

Zyn pouches may also increase the risk of heart disease in those who have not been exposed to nicotine products before, such as teens and young adults who have not smoked or vaped.

A Word From Verywell

Zyn is a highly addictive nicotine pouch that is associated with cardiovascular problems. It can lead to an increased risk of atherosclerosis and potential heart attacks. In adolescents, it can also affect attention, learning, and memory.

Safety Compared to Cigarettes and Vapes

One of the arguments often made for using smokeless pouches like Zyn is that they are a safer alternative to smoking or vaping. But this isn’t necessarily the case.

These smokeless pouches are new, and the long-term effect is still unknown. There is no way to be sure what will happen over many years of use. Since they do not contain tobacco, just the nicotine associated with it, they do not receive the same strict attention from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as they might otherwise.

But it is clear that Zyn pouches have side effects of their own, such as:

• Gum irritation
• Mouth soreness
• Nausea
• Nicotine addiction

For young people in particular, the nicotine in Zyn pouches may pose a threat to their developing brains. This can involve issues with learning, memory, and attention. There is also concern about developing an addiction to nicotine, with worry that the need for nicotine may broaden to cigarette use, with its definitive links to cancer and other health issues.

How to Stop Using Nicotine

If you are already using nicotine products, your body may be used to having a certain amount of nicotine in your system. After you stop using nicotine, you may find yourself craving the way nicotine makes you feel.

To effectively curb your cravings, try the following:

• Divert your attention to other things while reminding yourself the craving is temporary.
• Instead of a cigarette, reach for a carrot, celery stick, or piece of candy.
• Stay away from people and situations that remind you of what it was like to use nicotine.
• Use products that supply a small amount of nicotine to replace Zyn.

Zyn Alternatives

While you’re trying to overcome your Zyn habit, you may need some alternative nicotine sources to help wean you off the pouches. Instead, you might try:

Smoking Cessation Support

For those who decide to quit smoking or using nicotine, remember you do not need to do this alone. A variety of resources can help you navigate the process, such as these:

Heart Health After Quitting Nicotine

Once you do quit using nicotine products, you may wonder what this means for your heart health. Will there be ongoing repercussions? The good news is that your body can turn things around.

Within just a few minutes of stopping smoking (and the associated nicotine), your heart rate and blood pressure come down. Within a couple of weeks, your circulation and lung function ramp up. Then, within a year or two, your risk of heart attack is precipitously reduced.

By quitting smoking, it is possible to add as much as a decade to your life expectancy.

Summary

Zyn pouches have a reputation for being a safe alternative to cigarettes and vaping as they do not contain tobacco. However, the nicotine contained in them is addictive and can potentially cause serious heart issues that can put you at risk for a heart attack. If you quit your Zyn habit, it is possible to turn around your heart health.