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2017 Wellness Expo
Lincoln Daily News Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Exercising can help with smoking cessation.
Changes in brain activity, triggered by physical
exercise, may help reduce cigarette cravings.
Studies have shown that short bursts of
moderate exercise can significantly reduce
smokers’ nicotine cravings and continue
to decrease cravings as long as 50 minutes
afterwards.
How does exercise curb cravings?
Exercise can benefit smoking cessation for
several reasons:
Exercise improves your mood - physical
activity stimulates various brain chemicals
that may leave you feeling happier and more
relaxed.
Exercise controls weight - weight gain can
occur during efforts to quit smoking. You try to
replace food for cigarettes. When you engage
in physical activity, you burn calories. The
more intense and frequent the activity, the more
calories you burn.
Become more active during the day by taking
the stairs instead of the elevator or walking
5-10 minutes multiple times each day.
Exercise boosts energy - regular physical
activity can improve your muscle strength and
increase your endurance.
Exercise promotes better sleep - your sleeping
pattern can be disrupted when you try to quit
tobacco.
Regular physical activity can help you relax -
fall asleep faster and deepen your sleep. Just
don’t exercise too close to bedtime.
Exercise can put a spark back into your sex life
- smoking is a leading cause of impotence in
men over the age of 40. And quitting smoking
and exercise can leave you feeling energized
and looking better, which may have a positive
affect on your sex life.
Exercise can be fun - exercise gives you a
chance to unwind, enjoy the outdoors, connect
with friends, or simply engage in activities that
make you happy, such as taking a dance class,
hiking trails, or join a team sport.
Can you do it?
Quitting is worth it. No matter your age or how
long you have used tobacco products, you will
still benefit from quitting.
For information about smoking cessation
sessions at Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Hospital, contact Sharon Koester by calling
217-605-5111.