Is Zyn Bad for Your Heart?

Zyn nicotine pouches have become a widely used tobacco-free alternative, sparking both enthusiasm and worry among medical professionals. This guide examines their specific effects on heart health and cardiovascular function.

These small white pouches, placed between the upper lip and gum, deliver nicotine directly into the bloodstream without burning tobacco. While this eliminates exposure to known carcinogens such as tar and carbon monoxide, the nicotine itself still significantly affects the cardiovascular system.

In this guide, we'll explore:

• How nicotine from Zyn impacts heart function and blood vessels

• Immediate and long-term effects on cardiovascular health

• The connection between Zyn and heart palpitations

• Current regulatory oversight of these emerging nicotine products

Understanding Zyn and Nicotine Pouches

Zyn is a brand of nicotine pouches that has gained significant popularity in recent years. These small, white pouches contain powdered nicotine that dissolves in the mouth and enters the bloodstream when placed between the upper lip and gum—a practice known as "packing a lip".

Unlike traditional tobacco products such as dip or snus, Zyn pouches use nicotine salts instead of tobacco leaf. Each pouch typically contains 3–6 milligrams of nicotine, while cigarettes contain 10–12 milligrams (though smokers typically inhale only 1–2 milligrams). The pouches come in puck-shaped containers of 15 and are usually available in about 10 flavors, including mint, coffee, cinnamon, and menthol.

The key innovation of Zyn is its tobacco-free formula. While traditional smokeless products like chewing tobacco use tobacco as their base, Zyn delivers nicotine without any tobacco leaf. Though marketed as a harm reduction alternative, it's important to note that nicotine—the active ingredient—remains present in both types of products.

Zyn’s Popularity Among Young Adults and Social Media Influence

Zyn's popularity has surged dramatically in recent years. Though available in the U.S. for about a decade, demand rose so sharply that it led to shortages during summer 2024. Social media has driven this growth, with "Zynfluencers" promoting the product on TikTok and podcasts.

Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson emerged as a prominent advocate, earning the nickname "Tucker Carl-Zyn" among Gen Z users. Philip Morris International, which manufactures the originally Swedish Zyn, has confirmed these influencers are not company-paid.

Among young people, nicotine pouches rank as the fourth most used tobacco product, after e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and cigars. The 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey reported 1.5% of youth used nicotine pouches in 2022. However, a separate study of 15- to 24-year-olds found higher rates: 16% had tried them and 12% were current users.

Most concerning, many young users combine nicotine pouches with other tobacco products—73% also smoke cigarettes and 49% also vape.

Heart Health Risks Of Zyn Nicotine Pouches

Nicotine significantly affects the cardiovascular system, regardless of how it enters the body. It works by stimulating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors throughout the body, including in the central and autonomic nervous systems.

When nicotine enters the bloodstream, it triggers immediate cardiovascular responses. These include increased heart rate, blood pressure, and heart muscle activity through sympathetic activation and catecholamine release. Each use creates a new stress cycle on the cardiovascular system.

The long-term effects on heart health are particularly worrisome. Nicotine damages the cells lining blood vessels—called endothelial dysfunction—which leads to atherosclerosis. This damage occurs through decreased nitric oxide and increased inflammation.

Effects on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Using Zyn or any nicotine product triggers an immediate cardiovascular response that raises blood pressure and heart rate. This happens when nicotine releases adrenaline and other stress hormones, putting the body into a mild "fight or flight" state.

Dr. Jonathan Foulds, professor of public health sciences and psychiatry at Penn State University College of Medicine, describes nicotine's cardiovascular risk as "small, but real". While healthy individuals may tolerate these effects, people with existing heart conditions or risk factors face greater concerns.

Key cardiovascular changes from nicotine include:

Nicotine Pouches: Long-term Health Effects and Public Health Concerns

Nicotine raises LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, which accelerates the development of atherosclerosis. These changes increase the risk of serious cardiovascular conditions over time—even without tobacco smoke exposure.

Studies in humans and animals have linked nicotine use to several cardiovascular conditions: coronary heart disease, heart failure, irregular heartbeats (including atrial fibrillation and dangerous ventricular arrhythmias), and blood clots. This suggests that even "cleaner" nicotine delivery systems like Zyn may pose significant risks to heart health over time.

The Impact of Zyn on Heart Health

Do Nicotine Pouches Affect Your Heart Directly?

Nicotine works by stimulating specific receptors throughout the body, particularly in the central and autonomic nervous systems. When these receptors are activated, they trigger changes that directly affect how your heart and blood vessels function.

Nicotine has a direct impact on blood vessels, causing them to narrow—especially those supplying the heart. This narrowing can reduce oxygen supply to the heart and may even cause vessel spasms in some people. With continued use, these effects can permanently damage the cardiovascular system.

People with existing heart rhythm problems or heart conditions need to be especially careful. Since Zyn pouches are easy to use discreetly, users might keep them in longer or use them more frequently throughout the day. This pattern can keep nicotine levels elevated in the blood, putting sustained stress on the heart.

Can Zyn Cause Heart Palpitations?

Many nicotine users experience heart palpitations—feelings of irregular, forceful, or rapid heartbeats. These effects stem directly from how nicotine influences heart rate and rhythm. When nicotine activates the sympathetic nervous system, it can cause temporary irregular heartbeats or make users feel like their heart is skipping or pounding.

While research specifically on nicotine pouches and heart palpitations remains limited, nicotine's known effects suggest Zyn users may experience these symptoms. The risk increases with higher doses and in people sensitive to stimulants. Using multiple pouches at once or combining Zyn with other stimulants like caffeine may worsen these effects.

Notably, nicotine can affect heart rhythm even when stopping use. Users sometimes report heart palpitations both during use and while cutting back or quitting Zyn. These withdrawal symptoms occur as the body adapts to changing nicotine levels and the resulting shifts in nervous system activity.

Regulatory Actions and Public Health

Is Zyn Being Banned?

In January 2025, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officially authorized ten Zyn flavors for sale in the US. This authorization came after the products had been available to adults for over a decade.

The FDA emphasized that this authorization doesn't indicate safety—only that Zyn is less harmful than traditional tobacco products. The agency was clear: "There is no safe tobacco product," stressing that even tobacco-free nicotine products pose health risks.

The FDA based its decision partly on evidence that many adults who used cigarettes or smokeless tobacco successfully switched to nicotine pouches. While this suggests harm reduction benefits for current smokers, it doesn't address concerns about non-smokers starting nicotine use.

Youth access remains a significant concern for public health officials. In April 2024, the FDA issued warnings to 119 retailers for selling Zyn to minors. Nicotine can harm brain development in young people, leading to addiction and other long-term effects.

Most concerning are the patterns of dual use among young people—73% of young nicotine pouch users also smoke cigarettes, and 49% use vaping products. Rather than serving as a safer alternative, nicotine pouches often become an additional source of nicotine exposure, potentially increasing health risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Zyn increase blood pressure?

Yes, research shows that nicotine from Zyn immediately raises blood pressure. This occurs because nicotine triggers adrenaline release and activates the sympathetic nervous system, creating a mild "fight or flight" response. Though these increases are temporary, repeated spikes from regular use may lead to long-term blood pressure problems.

Is Zyn safer for your heart than cigarettes?

While Zyn eliminates exposure to harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, its nicotine still poses cardiovascular risks. Though the FDA has authorized Zyn as less risky than cigarettes, they clearly stated this doesn't make it safe. Nicotine contributes to heart disease risk no matter how it enters the body, even though the overall risks are likely lower than smoking.

How many Zyn pouches is too many for heart health?

There is no established "safe" limit. Each pouch typically delivers 3-6 mg of nicotine, with cardiovascular effects—including increased heart rate and blood pressure—occurring after each use. These effects can intensify when using multiple pouches consecutively or combining them with other stimulants like caffeine. People with existing heart conditions should be especially careful about usage patterns that keep nicotine levels elevated throughout the day.

Can Zyn cause permanent heart damage?

Long-term nicotine exposure damages blood vessel linings (endothelial dysfunction), leading to hardened arteries (atherosclerosis). Both animal and human studies show that chronic nicotine use can cause coronary heart disease, heart failure, and irregular heartbeats. While Zyn specifically needs more research, its amount of nicotine may cause these same lasting cardiovascular effects.

Should people with heart conditions avoid Zyn completely?

People with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions face heightened risks from nicotine use. Those with hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, or arrhythmias should be especially cautious, as even the temporary effects of nicotine can worsen these conditions. Anyone with heart-related medical conditions should consult their healthcare provider before using Zyn.

Summary: Evaluating the Risks of Using Zyn

Zyn nicotine pouches pose cardiovascular risks, albeit likely lower than those of traditional tobacco products. The nicotine they contain directly impacts heart rate, blood pressure, and blood vessel function. This can contribute to long-term cardiovascular disease through several mechanisms, including blood vessel lining damage, increased LDL cholesterol, and artery hardening.

For smokers trying to quit, nicotine pouches offer a harm reduction option. However, they aren't risk-free, especially for heart health; nor have they been officially authorized by the FDA as a nicotine replacement therapy (i. e. approved for smoking cessation). Scientists still don't fully understand their long-term cardiovascular effects, and nicotine remains active in the body whether it comes from tobacco or not.

People with existing heart conditions—including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart failure, or irregular heartbeats—should be particularly cautious and discuss risks with their healthcare providers. Public health initiatives must focus on two fronts: preventing young people from starting nicotine use while helping current tobacco users quit safely.

As Zyn's popularity grows, researchers need more time to understand its long-term effects on heart health. Current evidence is clear on one point: while Zyn may be less dangerous than smoking cigarettes, it still poses risks to your heart.

Resources to Quit Smoking

• Smokefree.gov - Provides tools, tips, and support that can help you quit smoking.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Quit Smoking - Offers resources on how to quit smoking, including tips on quitting, benefits of quitting, and quit plans.

• American Cancer Society - How to Quit Using Tobacco - Provides detailed information on why to quit, how to quit, and dealing with the emotional and physical aspects of quitting.

• Mayo Clinic - Quit Smoking - Features articles, tools, and tips on quitting smoking and overcoming nicotine dependence.

• Truth Initiative - Provides innovative tools and resources for young people, including a text-to-quit program.