We all know how bad smoking is for your body and health. But how is it with Nicotine Pouches or Snus? How does snus and Nico Pods affect exercise and athletic performance ? Do snus and nicotine pouches have a big impact on fitness and physical performance? These are some of the questions we will try to sort out in this article. Let’s start with a comparison with another product containing nicotine.
Nicotine Pouches vs. Smoking and exercising
Nicotine pouches and smoking both deliver nicotine to the body, but their effects on exercise and overall health differ significantly. This is mainly because of the method of delivery and the additional harmful substances found in cigarette smoke. Here's a comparison of their effects on exercise.
Respiratory System
- Smoking: Smoking cigarettes exposes the lungs to over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are harmful. Tar from cigarette smoke coats the lungs, reducing their efficiency. This leads to decreased lung function, reduced stamina, and shortness of breath. Chronic smoking can result in chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory problems that directly hinder exercise capacity.
- Nicotine Pouches: These do not affect the respiratory system directly since they are smokeless. As a result, they won't have the immediate negative impact on lung function that smoking does.
Cardiovascular System
- Smoking: Smoking raises heart rate, tightens major arteries, and can cause an irregular heart rhythm, all of which make the heart work harder. It can also increase the risk of atherosclerosis and blood clot formation, leading to reduced blood flow to muscles during exercise.
- Nicotine Pouches: Nicotine itself increases heart rate and blood pressure. While nicotine pouches don't have the same cardiovascular risks as smoking (due to the absence of harmful chemicals found in smoke), they still deliver nicotine which can have cardiovascular effects.
Endurance and Recovery
- Smoking: Reduced oxygen availability due to carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke limits endurance and can lead to muscle fatigue. Additionally, smokers often experience longer recovery times after exercise.
- Nicotine Pouches: They don't introduce carbon monoxide to the body, so they won't directly limit oxygen availability in the same way smoking does. However, the effects of nicotine on recovery are still not fully understood.
Long-term Health Risks
- Smoking: Beyond its immediate effects on exercise, chronic smoking leads to a myriad of health issues, including various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory conditions.
- Nicotine Pouches: While they are considered less harmful than smoking because they don't produce tar or many of the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke, the long-term health effects are not yet entirely known. It's worth noting that nicotine itself is addictive and can have various side effects.
Performance
- Smoking: Regular smoking is linked to decreased athletic performance because of its effects on the heart, lungs, and muscles.
- Nicotine Pouches: The direct impact of nicotine pouches on athletic performance hasn't been as extensively studied as smoking. But, it's likely they won't hinder performance as significantly as smoking would.
In conclusion, while nicotine pouches might pose fewer risks to exercise capacity and health than smoking, they are not risk-free. It's essential to be aware of the potential health implications of any form of nicotine consumption. If you're an athlete or someone who exercises regularly, it's always a good idea to consult with a medical professional about any substance use.
Athletes using nicotine pouches and snus
Lately a lot of athletes have been seen using Nicotine Pouches. Many players in the Premier League, League 1, Championship, use Swedish nicotine pouches. Big shots like Karim Benzema, Jamie Vardy and Manchester United defender Victor have been seen using nicotine pouches and snus. Athletes might use nicotine for a variety of reasons, including to reduce stress, improve concentration, or even as a stimulant. Here are some points to note:
- Ice Hockey Players: It's been widely reported that many NHL players use snus, especially those from Scandinavian countries where the product is popular. In Sweden ice hockey players have been using snus for ages.
- Football Players: There have been several reports of football players using snus. Some players believe it helps them focus, while others might be using it as a less harmful alternative to smoking.
- Golfers: Some professional golfers have been seen using snus during tournaments, possibly as a way to stay calm and focused.
It's also essential to understand the health risks associated with nicotine use, whether in the form of cigarettes, snus, or nicotine pouches. While some forms might be less harmful than smoking, they are not entirely without risk.
Are Nicotine Pouches like doping?
While nicotine pouches have not traditionally been considered a form of "doping" in sports, there have been discussions in the sports and anti-doping communities about the potential performance-enhancing effects of nicotine.
Several aspects of nicotine use in the context of sports performance and anti-doping considerations include:
Performance Enhancement
Some athletes believe that nicotine can improve concentration, reduce stress, and decrease pain perception, all of which could theoretically enhance performance in certain sports.
Some research suggests that nicotine might enhance hand-eye coordination, reaction time, and endurance. However, the results are mixed, and more studies are needed to confirm these effects.
WADA's Monitoring Program
As of 2021, nicotine is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) monitoring list. This means that while its use is not prohibited, WADA is monitoring its use to detect patterns of misuse in sport.
Being on the monitoring list means that WADA is collecting data on how frequently nicotine is used and in what amounts, which could potentially lead to its inclusion on the Prohibited List if evidence suggests that it provides a significant performance advantage, poses a health risk to athletes, or violates the "spirit of sport."
Health Considerations
While nicotine pouches are considered less harmful than smoking or even using smokeless tobacco products that contain tobacco, they are not without risks. Nicotine is addictive and can have side effects like increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, and potential gastrointestinal issues.
What does nicotine do to the body?
Nicotine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in the tobacco plant. When consumed, it exerts various effects on the body, primarily by acting on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nervous system. Here's a summary of its effects:
Central Nervous System (CNS):
- Stimulant Effect: Nicotine can lead to increased alertness and improved mood. It's also known to enhance cognitive functions like attention and memory, at least temporarily.
- Addiction: Nicotine is addictive, which is the primary reason many smokers find it challenging to quit. It increases the release of dopamine in the brain, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, mood regulation, and reward-driven behavior.
Peripheral Nervous System:
Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: Nicotine stimulates the release of adrenaline (epinephrine), which accelerates the heart rate and raises blood pressure.
Metabolism
Increased Metabolic Rate: Nicotine slightly increases the basal metabolic rate, leading to the burning of more calories. This is one reason some people gain weight when they quit smoking.
Appetite Suppression: Nicotine can reduce appetite, which might contribute to the lower body weight observed in some smokers compared to non-smokers.
Endocrine System
Release of Various Hormones: Besides adrenaline, nicotine can stimulate the release of several other hormones, including insulin, growth hormone, and cortisol.
Respiratory System
While nicotine itself does not damage the lungs like tar and other components in cigarette smoke, it can stimulate respiratory muscles, leading to a more profound and rapid breathing pattern in some users.
Digestive System
Nicotine can lead to increased production of saliva and stomach acid, potentially resulting in symptoms like heartburn. It can also alter bowel movement patterns.
Musculoskeletal System
Muscle Twitching and Tremors: Some users might experience muscle twitching or tremors due to nicotine's stimulant effects.
Tolerance
Over time, regular nicotine users can develop tolerance, meaning they need to consume more to achieve the same effects. This can lead to increased consumption over time.
Withdrawal Symptoms
If an addicted user stops taking nicotine, they might experience withdrawal symptoms. These can include irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, increased appetite, mood swings, and strong cravings for nicotine.
Potential Therapeutic Uses
There is some evidence suggesting that nicotine might have potential benefits for certain conditions. For instance, research has looked into its effects on Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ulcerative colitis, and Tourette's syndrome. However, the risks of nicotine use might outweigh the potential benefits for many people.
The impact of Nicotine Pouches on exercising - Summary
The knowledge that exists for the impact of nicotine pouches on the body is not as in-depth as for smoking. The results of research and established practice suggest that nicotine pouches can have both negative and positive effects on fitness and physical performance. There is not much research in this area yet, so it is difficult to draw any definitive conclusions on the use of nicotine pouches in combination with exercise.
But the fact is, nicotine pouches have started to be common among several athletes, even on a professional. Everything considered, the extent to which nicotine pouches have a negative effect on training and exercise does not really impact the training in any decisive way.
Although nicotine pouches can impair certain functions in the body, it can also improve some, but the effects seem relatively weak. The effects of nicotine pouches seem to be trumped by other factors, such as heredity, talent, physical conditions in general, etc..
The knowledge that exists for the impact of nicotine pouches our physical performance is not as in-depth as for smoking. As a result, there is less research available.. In addition, the effects of the snus vary from person to person, so it is difficult to give precise answers or concrete advice to a particular individual.
NOTE: This article does not claim to be a scientific study. The text is a compilation of facts available online for the public.
