Smokers can walk to lessen cravings

Are you struggling to quit smoking? Take a walk.\nScientists at the University of Exeter’s School of Sport and Health Sciences in the United Kingdom report that even five minutes of exercise can reduce cravings and smoking withdrawal symptoms such as poor concentration, stress and anxiety.\nThe scientists’ conclusions are based on a review of 14 studies, which appeared in a recent issue of the international journal Addiction.\n“If a drug revealed the same effects, it would immediately be marketed as a valuable aid to help people quit smoking or cut down,” Adrian Taylor, a researcher at the University of Exeter, said in a news release.\nAccording to the U.S.’s National Center for Health Statistics, an estimated 25.1 million men (23.4 percent) and 20.9 million women (18.5 percent) are smokers in the United States. About 1.3 million smokers successfully quit every year, while only 4.7 percent of all quitters stop smoking for at least three months.\nThe U.K. researchers are conducting research on the effects of exercise on parts of the brain that affect cigarette cravings and withdrawal. They hope to include walking as official advice in smoking cessation clinics in the U.K.\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services already includes walking and other exercises in its cessation program materials.