Psychopharmacology: brisk walking may relieve nicotine addiction

Researchers from the University of Innsbruck (Austria) found that walking briskly in the fresh air reduces cravings for cigarettes. The results of the study were published in the journal Psychopharmacology.

The study involved three different experiments involving 16 smokers over the age of 18. All subjects had smoked at least ten cigarettes a day for at least the past two years (prior to participation).

As part of the study, in randomized order, participants took a ten-minute brisk walk outdoors, performed a similar exercise on a treadmill indoors, or remained in a seated position for ten minutes. Before, during, and after each phase, participants were asked to self-assess the intensity of craving, the presence of nicotine withdrawal, and to report their mood.

A specialized scale of mood and physical symptoms was used to measure these indicators. Its main items included a five-point assessment of depressed mood, irritability, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and hunger, as well as a six-point assessment of the severity of urges to smoke and the length of time the craving was felt.

The results showed that brisk walking on the track and in the street helped to reduce the desire to smoke a cigarette. Staying in a sedentary position had no effect on this parameter. A similar effect was seen on the strength of withdrawal syndrome and general well-being. However, it is noted that 10 after the end of the outdoor exercise, the craving for smoking was slightly lower than after the treadmill exercise.

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