Can Smokeless Tobacco Cause Heart Disease?

If you're considering using smokeless tobacco as an alternative to smoking, you may want to think again. Can smokeless tobacco cause heart disease? The answer is a resounding yes.

Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can raise your blood pressure and heart rate. It also contains other chemicals that can damage the lining of your blood vessels and increase your risk of blood clots.

While smokeless tobacco does not contain the tar and other harmful substances found in cigarettes, it is still a major health risk. In fact, smokeless tobacco users are at an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and oral cancer.

Stories

Benefit: Smokeless tobacco users are at an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and oral cancer.

How to: Quit using smokeless tobacco. There are many resources available to help you quit, including the National Cancer Institute's SmokefreeTXT program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's SmokefreeTXT program.

Benefit: Smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can raise your blood pressure and heart rate.

How to: If you are unable to quit using smokeless tobacco, talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of heart disease.

| Smokeless tobacco use and cardiovascular disease (CVD)

| :-: | :-: |

| Smokeless tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of CVD. | The risk of CVD is increased by 20% in smokeless tobacco users. |

| Smokeless tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). | The risk of MI is increased by 40% in smokeless tobacco users. |

| Smokeless tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of stroke. | The risk of stroke is increased by 30% in smokeless tobacco users. |

Sections

Pros

Smokeless tobacco does not contain the tar and other harmful substances found in cigarettes.

Smokeless tobacco is less likely to cause cancer than cigarettes.

Smokeless tobacco is less likely to cause respiratory problems than cigarettes.

Cons

Smokeless tobacco can still cause heart disease, stroke, and oral cancer.

Smokeless tobacco is addictive.

Smokeless tobacco can damage the lining of your blood vessels.

Smokeless tobacco can increase your risk of blood clots.

| Smokeless tobacco use and all-cause mortality

| :-: | :-: |

| Smokeless tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. | The risk of all-cause mortality is increased by 20% in smokeless tobacco users. |

| Smokeless tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of death from CVD. | The risk of death from CVD is increased by 40% in smokeless tobacco users. |

| Smokeless tobacco use is associated with an increased risk of death from stroke. | The risk of death from stroke is increased by 30% in smokeless tobacco users. |

Call to Action

If you are thinking about using smokeless tobacco, please reconsider. There are many other ways to enjoy tobacco without putting your health at risk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to quit using smokeless tobacco.

Can Smokeless Tobacco Cause Heart Disease?