Mild exercise reduces cigarette craving

Exercising for 5 to 10 minutes can significantly reduce the cravings for cigarettes among people trying to quit the habit. Researchers from the University of Exeter in UK, found that mild exercise should be recommended as an aid to managing cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms. While exercise has been suggested as a strategy for helping smokers quit, the focus has largely been on using workouts to help prevent weight gain. To better understand the potential benefits of exercise on smoking cessation, the researchers reviewed 14 studies on how exercise affects smoking behaviour, cravings and withdrawal. Twelve of the studies compared exercise to a passive control condition, and all found that a bout of physical activity reduced cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms compared to staying inactive. In several studies, exercise cut craving as much as or even more than chewing nicotine gum. In 4 studies, exercise also as much as tripled the time it took for smokers, trying to quit the habit, to reach for their next cigarette. Effects were seen for vigorous bouts of exercise lasting for up to 40 minutes, but even less intense 15-minute sessions and even five minutes of isometrics - had a significant effect. It's not likely that distraction alone was responsible for the side effects of exercise, given the fact that cravings were lowered for 50 minutes after an exercise session. More plausibly, exercise may fight the urge to smoke by reducing stress and boosting mood. Bouts of exercise may be one strategy for reducing cigarette consumption, thereby lowering health risks for those unwilling or unable to quit and reducing the risk of progressing to regular smoking. Mild exercise in which most people can conveniently engage appears to be sufficient.