Are Nicotine Pouches Bad for Your Heart? Does Zyn Affect Cardiovascular Health?

With the increasing popularity of nicotine pouches like Zyn, VELO, and On!, users often turn to these products thinking they are safer alternatives to smoking or vaping. But how safe are they for your heart? Can nicotine pouches cause cardiovascular problems—and more specifically, is Zyn bad for your heart?

In this article, we explore the latest scientific research on nicotine’s impact on cardiovascular health, including what we know (and don’t yet know) about nicotine pouches.

How Nicotine Affects the Heart

Nicotine is a well-known stimulant. When absorbed into the bloodstream, it has several immediate and long-term effects on the cardiovascular system:

• Increased heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• Constriction of blood vessels
• Higher risk of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Increased heart rate
• Elevated blood pressure
• Constriction of blood vessels
• Higher risk of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

Do Nicotine Pouches Have the Same Effect?

Nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco and are smokeless, but they still deliver nicotine into the bloodstream via the mucous membranes in the mouth. Studies suggest that blood nicotine levels from pouches can be similar to, or in some cases even higher than, those delivered by cigarettes or vaping.A 2023 study published in Tobacco Control found that Zyn and other nicotine pouch products produced “rapid and measurable” increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure within 30 minutes of use

Cardiovascular Risks: What We Know

While long-term studies on nicotine pouches are limited, the cardiovascular effects of nicotine itself are well documented:

• A 2018 review in The Journal of the American Heart Association concluded that nicotine contributes to endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and atherosclerosis, all of which raise the risk for heart attack and stroke 
• Chronic nicotine exposure has been linked to increased arterial stiffness, a predictor of cardiovascular events.

Given that nicotine pouches can deliver comparable doses of nicotine, the same risks are potentially relevant for products like Zyn.

Is Zyn Bad for Your Heart?

The short answer: potentially, yes. Zyn and other nicotine pouches can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, both of which are independent risk factors for cardiovascular disease. While we lack long-term studies specifically on Zyn, the known effects of nicotine suggest that regular pouch use could negatively impact heart health.

People with existing heart conditions (such as hypertension, arrhythmia, or coronary artery disease) should be particularly cautious. Even in healthy individuals, chronic stimulation of the cardiovascular system by nicotine may lead to long-term damage.

Are There Safer Alternatives?

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) like patches, gum, and lozenges are regulated and often used under medical supervision, with lower abuse potential. If you’re using nicotine pouches as a step away from smoking, they may be a short-term improvement—but they are not risk-free.

If you’re concerned about your heart health, the safest approach is to quit nicotine altogether. For many, this requires a combination of behavioral therapy, support groups, and in some cases, medications like varenicline (Chantix) or bupropion (Zyban).

Conclusion

Nicotine pouches, including Zyn, are not benign. While they eliminate some of the harms associated with smoking, they still expose users to nicotine’s cardiovascular effects. Current research suggests that nicotine pouches can elevate heart rate, blood pressure, and increase cardiovascular risk over time.

Until more long-term research becomes available, it’s wise to treat these products with caution—especially if you have a family history of heart disease or are already experiencing symptoms.

References

1. Bhatnagar, A., Whitsel, L. P., Ribisl, K. M., Bullen, C., Chaloupka, F., Piano, M. R., … & Benowitz, N. (2010). Electronic cigarettes: A policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 132(16), 1520–1544. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.921460
   
2. Pasquereau, A., Andler, R., Nguyen-Thanh, V., & Arwidson, P. (2023). Prevalence and characteristics of nicotine pouch use in France: Findings from the 2022 Health Barometer survey. Tobacco Control. Advance online publication. https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2023/04/25/tc-2022-057953
   
3. Alzahrani, T., Pena, I., Temesgen, N., & Glantz, S. A. (2018). Association between electronic cigarette use and myocardial infarction. Journal of the American Heart Association, 7(15), e008342. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.118.008342
   
4. Primatesta, P., Falaschetti, E., Gupta, S., Marmot, M. G., & Poulter, N. R. (2003). Association between smoking and blood pressure: Evidence from the Health Survey for England. American Journal of Hypertension, 16(10), 819–825. https://academic.oup.com/ajh/article/16/10/819/219093
   
5. World Health Organization. (2016). Nicotine without smoke: Tobacco harm reduction. WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation (Report No. 955). https://www.who.int/tobacco/publications/prod_regulation/nicotine-without-smoke/en/