Heysnus is a smokeless tobacco product which is placed under the upper lip and can be kept in place for up to 120 minutes, without the need for spitting. It is used either as loose snus or as portion snus (pris). The product is often combined with coffee, tea, and/or fruit. It is generally believed that snus is less harmful to the user than cigarette smoke and does not pose a risk for oral cancer or other serious health problems.
The use of snus has largely replaced smoking and other varieties of oral tobacco in Sweden. Since around 1996, daily snus use among men has grown in popularity while cigarette smoking rates have decreased. This trend has been repeated in many European countries.
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Some studies suggest that snus may be less harmful than smoking to the user and others. However, there is not enough evidence to determine if snus is protective against lung cancer or other diseases. Some studies have found that high snus consumption is associated with increased risks of developing diabetes or components of the metabolic syndrome.
Like chewing tobacco and American dipping tobacco, snus is a type of smokeless tobacco. However, unlike those products, which are usually fermented, snus goes through a process of steam pasteurization similar to the way milk is processed. This process is designed to reduce the formation of carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines. The product is subsequently packed in pouches. Scandinavian snus is widely available in the United States, refrigerated, in several brands and flavors at tobacco shops and some convenience stores.