Snus & Eye Sight

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  • mwood72

    Snus & Eye Sight

    Has anybody noticed that Snus weakens their eye sight? I've read scare stories about "Tobacco Blindless" but am not sure whether it is the Nictoine, tobacco or smoking tobacco that causes it?
  • Zero
    Member
    • May 2006
    • 1522

    #2
    Well, it is a real phenomenon, but I would tend to think that it is toxins in the smoke more than just the nicotine which causes it. Breathing the carbon monoxide, for example, would reduce the oxygen content of your blood and the constriction of vessels by the nicotine would further starve tissues fed by capillaries (like your retina). I've seen studies quoting increases in incidence of eye disease among smokers who smoked in excess of 20 cigarettes a day for over 15 years, but little or no correlation to lighter smokers. I would be very surprised to see any significant carry-over of that effect among snus users, mind you. My eyesight is already crap and has been since I was a kid, at least in terms of extreme short-sightedness. My acuity otherwise is excellent and I had a recent eye test done to check for retinal damage (because I work with lasers - have to get it done regularly) and my eyes seem fine.

    Comment

    • STORM6490MT
      Member
      • Mar 2008
      • 138

      #3
      Re: Snus & Eye Sight

      Originally posted by mwood72
      Has anybody noticed that Snus weakens their eye sight? I've read scare stories about "Tobacco Blindless" but am not sure whether it is the Nictoine, tobacco or smoking tobacco that causes it?
      Well, I have had several concussions in my life. When I was smoking, I sometimes had periods where my eyes would not focus properly. I believe it was because of the toxic second hand smoke coming off of my lucky strike non filter. I would get blind spots in my eye when riding on occasion and it scared the hell out of me. I was thinking tumor or something bad.

      Several months later, I don't smoke and it doesn't happen anymore. My vision is perfect and no more blind spots at high speed.

      I LOVE SNUS!!!

      Comment

      • DraculaViktor
        Member
        • Feb 2008
        • 66

        #4
        In regards to tobacco and health, most every wicked ailment can be linked to excessive tobacco smoking, i.e. cigarettes. Swedish snus in particular should not even be in the same equation when factoring tobacco's harm to the human body. Anti-tobacco should leave Swedish snus alone. Far more harm can be done from poor diet, sedentary lifestyle and maybe base jumping.

        Comment

        • TropicalBob
          Member
          • Feb 2008
          • 316

          #5
          All true here, but Zero hit something that is absolutely true: In tobacco use, it's the nicotine that is the vasoconstrictor. Not the 4,000 various carcinogenic or mutagenic substances they throw at us.

          Constricting arterial flow has a number of short term and long term effects. Faster heart rate. Higher blood pressure. More work for liver and pancreas handling the brain's dump of chemicals. All short term.

          Long term are the big three: Erectile dysfunction, hearing loss and eyesight. All rely on blood that won't flow as well through arteries narrowed by nicotine use. And they don't care if the nicotine is from an unfiltered Camel or a snus. Lots of good folks on this forum rave about the great nic kick a particular snus brings. That kick is partly (the rest is chemical release) your restricted blood flow's doing. Your brain is affected and you feel woozy, elated, relaxed.

          Can you say Viagra, hearing aid and contact lens implants? Small price, huh? I wouldn't worry. Compared to other sources of nicotine, snus is tops in the benefit/harm category.

          Comment

          • mwood72

            #6
            Interesting points.

            So it sounds like it's the lack of blood flow to the brain that gives you that chilled, elated and relaxed Nicotine feeling.

            I must admit my eyesight suffered much worse when I smoked but I have noticed that Snus and the higher doses of NRT (yuck!) do it too to an extent.

            Viagra mixed with Snus would be an intersting combination but I assume that would couneract the effects of the nicotine with it improving blood flow.

            I had started to wonder whether it was the other toxins in tobacco that caused it but thinking about it if NRT does it too I guess logically it must just be the nicotine.

            I have a moderate Astigmatic prescription and did go to the Opticians for a check up recently as I've found recently that I have to keep my head almost dead level to get clear vision (eg when I tilt my head my vision blurs to some extent) They couldn't see anything wrong though looking in the back of my eyes and said that my prescripton hadn't changed much except for a slight shift of the axis of the prescription in the right eye.

            I guess you always look to blame your vices when something out of the ordinary happens to you.

            Comment

            • Zero
              Member
              • May 2006
              • 1522

              #7
              Originally posted by TropicalBob
              All true here, but Zero hit something that is absolutely true: In tobacco use, it's the nicotine that is the vasoconstrictor.
              Yep. I take ginseng in the mornings as something of a counteragent to that. I also eat mountains of garlic - both are strong vasodilators.

              Other foods/herbs which are good vasodilators are things like Sage, Hawthorn, Peppermint, Camomile, chinese herbs Dan Gui and Huang Qi (and Ma Huang, but be careful with that one - it's the ephedrine in it that does it!).

              Comment

              • Marv
                Member
                • Mar 2008
                • 47

                #8
                Might I also suggest taking fish oil capsules. I take around 3-6grams a day. It is a great anti-inflammitory.

                Comment

                • TropicalBob
                  Member
                  • Feb 2008
                  • 316

                  #9
                  Might I suggest niacin? The old kind that creates a regal flush.

                  Comment

                  • victor meldrew
                    Member
                    • Feb 2007
                    • 34

                    #10
                    I take only 8 Wise 3mg a day (1,5 hour each) for 16 months.
                    I notice only heartache, and strange feelings somewhere top left...
                    I need to decrease !

                    Comment

                    • DraculaViktor
                      Member
                      • Feb 2008
                      • 66

                      #11
                      Strange feelings top left? What do you mean? Top left in your mouth or top left near your heart?

                      Comment

                      • victor meldrew
                        Member
                        • Feb 2007
                        • 34

                        #12
                        both...

                        Comment

                        • TropicalBob
                          Member
                          • Feb 2008
                          • 316

                          #13
                          Yes, you do need to decrease. Your body tells you what you do wrong, if you'll only listen.

                          Eight? Do four. Or six if you can't jump down that far. Don't move to Wise 6mg and do half as much, however. Wise has, hands down, the most efficient nicotine delivery of any snus product I've ever tried. That 6mg stuff is fast and brutal.

                          Your heart is talking to you. Pay 'tention.

                          Comment

                          • chainsnuser
                            Senior Member
                            • Jan 2007
                            • 1388

                            #14
                            Originally posted by victor meldrew
                            I take only 8 Wise 3mg a day (1,5 hour each) for 16 months.
                            I notice only heartache, and strange feelings somewhere top left...
                            I need to decrease !
                            Use some other brands. If the feelings stay the same, yeah, then cut down a bit.

                            BTW, though I personally find the whole concept of the Wise-brands (pure nicotine from chemically processed, 'purified' tobacco) much more alarming than all the TSNA's in other brands, the instant heavy nicotine-kick they should give, sounds really interesting. I maybe order a can next time, but am not sure.

                            Cheers!

                            Comment

                            • TropicalBob
                              Member
                              • Feb 2008
                              • 316

                              #15
                              Worth a try, Chainsnuser. I don't find it altogether pleasant, to tell you the truth. It's like a quick drunk. I imagine inhaling alcohol would produce something like the head-spin Wise 6mg produces.

                              Among sensations, nausea is not one I covet. A nic kick makes me feel good; Wise sometimes makes me feel ill. Too much, too fast. Something about their processing just has to be different.

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