Higher nicotine doses vs. health?

[heders]

I've been starting to use a lot of strong snus lately, and was wondering if there is increased health risk with higher doses of nicotine? I've read that a persons tolerance actually protects them from damage from nicotine; and that nicotine is not that dangerous at all (comparable to caffeine). That would mean "all" (below the toxic range) nicotine levels are fine as long as you have a tolerance for nicotine.

There isn't very much nicotine in a, for instance, Thunder portion (16 mg/g) though - since it's only like a 2 gram loose snus (ordinary strength), which is considered a pretty ordinary prilla size here in Sweden.

But is there any real dangers to using lots of strong snus (like future heart problems etc?)?

I'm not worried at all, but just curious if anyone happens to know more about this subject.

[chadizzy1]

Well nicotine does temporarily elevate blood pressure, so I assume if you have heart problems it isn't good now, but I don't see it as charging future problems.

But I dunno, I'm not a scientist

[heders]

Well nicotine does temporarily elevate blood pressure, so I assume if you have heart problems it isn't good now, but I don't see it as charging future problems.

But I dunno, I'm not a scientist

No heart problems here. I have a young (18/19 years old), fresh heart.

Yeah, I really don't know. Because you get a much higher blood pressure raise by sex or exercise. I'm not sure what the difference is in that aspect; if the nicotine blood pressure raise is dangerous and the blood pressure raise of sex/exercise is healthy.

[devilock76]

The blood pressure thing is about it. That and of course your overall nicotine dependency will increase with usage. I have a heart condition, thankfully I have always had fairly low blood pressure. Smoking however is such a double hit on blood pressure if you are the type that nothing else worked for, well you just gotta go with the lesser evil (and better taste).

Ken

[heders]

The blood pressure thing is about it. That and of course your overall nicotine dependency will increase with usage. I have a heart condition, thankfully I have always had fairly low blood pressure. Smoking however is such a double hit on blood pressure if you are the type that nothing else worked for, well you just gotta go with the lesser evil (and better taste).

Ken

Thanks for the info. So, the doctors are OK with the snus usage with your heart condition? Sounds very good in that case.

I think also that cigarettes, which have a very steep and high blood pressure, caused in a short time, is much more dangerous than the slower raise of oral tobacco.

My blood pressure is also pretty low. So I think the snus use benefits me a bit so it isn't too low all the time.

[devilock76]

Thanks for the info. So, the doctors are OK with the snus usage with your heart condition? Sounds very good in that case.

I think also that cigarettes, which have a very steep and high blood pressure, caused in a short time, is much more dangerous than the slower raise of oral tobacco.

My blood pressure is also pretty low. So I think the snus use benefits me a bit so it isn't too low all the time.

Yes and no. Either way they can't deny the at least I ain't smoking factor of it.

My defect is a bicuspid aortic valve. It is actually one of the most common occurring genetic heart defects there is. The fact that I know about it in my 30's is pure accident, most people don't find out till their 50's when they suffer aortic stenosis or rupture black out and collapse and need an emergency valve replacement. So I am already ahead of the curve in the fact that I get an echo cardiogram yearly to check up on it. Elevated blood pressure can reduce the risk. Of later complications , maybe. In the end though if I didn't snus I would be either smoking or snacking more, both of which can be just as bad if not worse.

On a side note what is considered low blood pressure is getting lower by most medical standards. 120 over 80 used to be considered a good healthy BP but it is now like 70 over 110 and lower is what they are looking for. Specifically the upper number. I just don't want them to tell me I have to take Blood pressure medecine as I hear too many stories of bad side effects from them.

Ken

[PipenSnus]

I can't claim this is anything definitive, merely my experience.

I had high blood pressure for years, even while taking two blood pressure meds. Once I stopped getting my nicotine fix from cigarettes, however, my blood pressure (still on meds) finally returned to the normal range. I still get plenty of nicotine through snus, snuff, and the occasional pipe. I think the change in BP is because I'm now getting my nicotine in a slow, gradual dose, rather than the immense blast that cigarettes give you.

[devilock76]

I can't claim this is anything definitive, merely my experience.

I had high blood pressure for years, even while taking two blood pressure meds. Once I stopped getting my nicotine fix from cigarettes, however, my blood pressure (still on meds) finally returned to the normal range. I still get plenty of nicotine through snus, snuff, and the occasional pipe. I think the change in BP is because I'm now getting my nicotine in a slow, gradual dose, rather than the immense blast that cigarettes give you.

More likely it is from the fact that although nicotine raises your blood pressure when it is in your system, your blood pressure will go back down once it is out of your system, However in the case of cigarettes the carbon monoxide and tar as well as other chemicals that lead to general reduced lung function contribute to an overall raised baseline blood pressure with each cigarette spiking it and adding to the baseline.

Just my theory, and I am not a doctor.

Ken