Do you snus while at the doctors

[jagmanss]

I have been wondering if anyone has had A portion in either while waiting to see the dr. or while having their blood pressure taken. Does Snus raise your blood pessure? or lower it for you because of the calming affect.

Can the long term use with the salt content in snus cause a raise in blood pressure? Does the nicotine content between 8mg, 12mg, 15mg have any affect on your blood pressure while having it taken at the dr. office?

I know the nurses always said to not smoke at least 20 to 30 min. Before having your blood pressure taken at the office as this would raise it... what about snus?

What if the doctor wants you on a salt restricted diet and you snus? snus has salt...

[GoVegan]

Nicotine does raise your blood pressure and I try not to use snus an hour or two before I get mine checked. I am not too worried about the salt as I have heard that the impact salt has on blood pressure is highly overrated. Also, there comes a point where you just say screw it. I love the taste of salt and could not imagine eating many foods without it.

[Langdell]

Yes, I always snus at the doctor's office (always in the waiting room, and I'll usually keep a portion in while being examined if I know the doc or nurse is not going to need me to open my mouth for anything). My blood pressure usually checks out fine, and my (completely unscientific) theory is that, yes, the calming effect cancels out any negative effect the snus itself may have on bp. It certainly keeps me in a better mood after an hour or more wait than I would otherwise be in! Also, I usually will use a mint snus at the doc's, leaving my breath minty fresh.

[CoderGuy]

Yes, I always snus at the doctor's office (always in the waiting room, and I'll usually keep a portion in while being examined if I know the doc or nurse is not going to need me to open my mouth for anything). My blood pressure usually checks out fine, and my (completely unscientific) theory is that, yes, the calming effect cancels out any negative effect the snus itself may have on bp. It certainly keeps me in a better mood after an hour or more wait than I would otherwise be in! Also, I usually will use a mint snus at the doc's, leaving my breath minty fresh.

+1

Even if they check your mouth they usually only say, "Open and say ahhhh" they have never checked the snus pocket area.

[EricHill78]

I use snus during blood pressure tests, talking to the Dr etc.. Even had one in during a catscan. I'm debating on having one in right before they put me under fo my colonoscopy.. That would be awesome.

Edit - considering I've never been "put under" before I don't know how I'll react when I wake up. The portion may come flying out when I come to who knows. Would still be cool though.

[ChaoticGemini]

My husband has high blood pressure, but (in the pursuit of science, of course) I have made him pop various strengths of snus to see what it does to him. I would test before use. Test again 5 to 10 minutes after placing it in his mouth. He would then take the snus out and I would test again in 15 minutes and 30 minutes. At every dosage we found the blood pressure dropped. An 8 mg portion actually placing him in normal range during use. Post snus usage (up to an hour, didn't test longer) his blood pressure would go back up, but not as high as the pre-snus baseline.

Take from that what you will. It was just our single sampling.

Edit: hubby is not a regular nic user, so I have no idea how that changes the readings we had, but it does create entertainment with just 5 minutes of a sterk.

[Tobakssmak]

Since the first of the year (when I started snussing), I've been to the doctor about 5 times, and I've had a portion in every single time. Even at the dentist, I only took it out while I as actually in the chair. Soon as I got up, I popped a fresh one in. He didn't say a word. Either he didn't notice, or didn't care.

[bipolarbear1968]

I can live without nicotine long enough to get my visits over with.
To me, snus doesn't have the urgency that cigarettes once did.

[PipenSnus]

I have high blood pressure and take 2 medications to control it. I was snusing during my last doctor visit, and my blood pressure was normal.

[dreed2]

I've taken my blood pressure while snussing, and it was normal. But I have studied yoga and try to relax as much as possible, so my results may not be the same as everyone else's.

[SnusoMatic]

i have high bp and have to go to doc a few times a year. i try to remember to remove my snus before the doc comes in. i don't want to have to hear him preach to me. but as it turns out i almost always forget and leave it in. my bp is almost always normal (spanning five years of snus). the doc always looks in my mouth and ive never even been caught that way haha

[jagmanss]

Hmm... So far 2 out of 11 don't snus while having their blood pressure checked or have 1 in while at the doctor. Interesting... I will have to check mine and see.. But can see at least it's not an issue or out of the ordanary to have one in at the doctors office....

[jagmanss]

My husband has high blood pressure, but (in the pursuit of science, of course) I have made him pop various strengths of snus to see what it does to him. I would test before use. Test again 5 to 10 minutes after placing it in his mouth. He would then take the snus out and I would test again in 15 minutes and 30 minutes. At every dosage we found the blood pressure dropped. An 8 mg portion actually placing him in normal range during use. Post snus usage (up to an hour, didn't test longer) his blood pressure would go back up, but not as high as the pre-snus baseline.

Take from that what you will. It was just our single sampling.

Edit: hubby is not a regular nic user, so I have no idea how that changes the readings we had, but it does create entertainment with just 5 minutes of a sterk.

Wish I could do this to my wife, sounds like it could make for a fun and entertaining evening with extra sterks

[desirexe]

I always discard snus before seeing the doctor, it would make it so much harder for me to lie with snus in my mouth when the question comes up, "Do you use tobacco?" Speaking of which - do all doctors ask their patients that question before EVERY appointment??

[EricHill78]

I always discard snus before seeing the doctor, it would make it so much harder for me to lie with snus in my mouth when the question comes up, "Do you use tobacco?" Speaking of which - do all doctors ask their patients that question before EVERY appointment??

That's interesting to me. I've seen about 5 or 6 maybe dr's this last month not counting admitting staff, RN's etc... And they only ask if I smoke.. Never ask about tobacco in general. I allways say I quit smoking a couple months ago and that's it. I'm not lying
because they only ask about smoking. I guess it depends what area of the country you live in? Who knows...