Having trouble quitting the bad habit? A new study shows exercise can help smokers quit and stay smoke-free!
The study presented at the World Heart Federation World Congress of Cardiology in Dubai evaluated more than 434,000 people in Taiwan over 12 years, and found that smokers who were considered active (ones who got 30 minutes of physical activity per day) were 55 percent more likely to quit smoking than inactive smokers. After quitting, members of the “active” group were 43 percent less likely to start smoking again.
Researchers also discovered that physical activity lengthened life expectancy among both nonsmokers and smokers in the study. Smokers who exercised saw an increase of 3.7 years, while former smokers who quit saw an increase of 5.6 years.
“Exercise can help smokers to quit, and quitting smoking has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing CVD [cardiovascular disease], and that must be the goal of all smokers,” says C.P. Wen, MD, of the National Health Research Institute in Taiwan, in a release from the World Heart Federation. “If smokers can continue to exercise, not only they can increase the quit rate, but also they can reduce their mortality for all cause and for CVD in the long run.”
So how does exercise help smokers quit? According to Everyday Health, exercise has been known to ease nicotine cravings, distract from thoughts of smoking, relieve stress, and even improve mood – all factors that can make or break a quitting plan! Plus, extra exercise will help ward off weight gain associated with quitting. It’s a win-win! So next time you feel like lighting up, lace up your sneakers and just move!
For more information on the benefits of quitting, see how your body repairs itself after your last cigarette!
