The essential elements to improve the health of your heart are diet, exercise, smoking and stress.
Exercise Can Decrease Nicotine Cravings
Even mild exercise can help stave off cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It can also reduce a smoker's chance of reaching for a cigarette. As little as five minutes of simple exercises such as walking or muscle flexing proved as effective as a nicotine patch in decreasing an immediate craving.
Researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of Toronto reviewed 14 previously published studies and compared the results. Twelve of the studies showed that exercise caused a rapid decrease in cigarette cravings, withdrawal symptoms and other negative effects of cigarette addiction.
A high-intensity exercise session reduced cravings for 30 to 40 minutes, whereas a lighter session reduced them for 15 minutes.
The majority of studies found that exercise caused a significant decrease in at least two of six withdrawal symptoms: anxiety, restlessness, irritability, stress, tension and poor concentration.
Relatively small bouts of exercise should be recommended as an aid to managing cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms.