Nicotine and Your Heart
Nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure, putting stress on your cardiovascular system. Regular pouch use means constant cardiovascular strain. Quitting allows your heart rate and blood pressure to normalize, reducing long-term heart disease risk.
Oral Health Effects
Nicotine pouches can cause gum irritation, gum recession, and increased sensitivity. Unlike snus, pouches don't contain tobacco leaf, but nicotine itself affects gum tissue. Many users report sore spots, white patches, and gum inflammation. These typically improve within weeks of quitting.
Addiction and Brain Chemistry
Nicotine rewires your brain's reward system. It hijacks dopamine pathways, creating artificial pleasure signals. Over time, your brain produces less natural dopamine, making you dependent on nicotine for normal mood regulation. Recovery takes 3-6 months of abstinence.
Nicotine Absorption Rates
Nicotine pouches are absorbed at approximately 60% efficiency through the gum lining. Compare this to cigarettes (15-20% absorption through lungs) and you see why pouches can be more addictive per milligram. A 6mg pouch delivers more effective nicotine than a cigarette.
What Happens When You Quit
20 minutes: Heart rate and blood pressure begin to drop. 12 hours: Carbon monoxide levels normalize. 2-12 weeks: Circulation improves. 1-9 months: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease. 1 year: Heart disease risk drops significantly.