Increased Prevalence of Smoking With Snus (Smokeless Tobacco)

The use of snus (smokeless tobacco) has been increasing rapidly in Sweden and Norway and overtook cigarette use in both countries in 1996. During the past four to five decades snus has been used by consumers on a large scale and this increased prevalence is likely to be one reason why Swedish smoking rates are among the lowest in Europe. Source:https://heysnus.com/el

The UK Royal College of Physicians has stated that the trends in snus and cigarette use indicate that snus has become a substitute for smoking particularly among men. The Swedish Government also reports that the use of snus is likely to be a significant contributor to lowering smoking rates in the country.

Exploring the Global Appeal of Snus: A Cross-Cultural Perspective

Most modern snus products undergo steam pasteurization to eliminate the presence of bacteria that facilitate the formation of potentially harmful nitrosamines in the product. The process does not change the taste, but the snus is very dry and therefore takes longer to initially “drip” when it is placed between the lips.

In a small study [54] snus users were found to have lower pulse and blood pressure responses and improved diastolic function compared with non-users, which may explain why snus use reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, further research is needed to assess the long term impact of snus usage on these measures.

Three epidemiological studies [97, 98, 99] have examined whether snus or cigarette smoking increases the risk of periodontitis. None of the studies reported a link between snus or cigarette use and periodontitis. However, a higher level of smoking and age are associated with the development of this disease.