Exercise 'helps smokers kick the butt and reduces death risk'

Washington, Apr 21 (ANI): Exercise may help smokers to quit and remain smokefree, newly presented data has revealed.

According to the data, exercise increases life expectancy in smokers and non-smokers alike.

The study of 434,190 people who went through medical examination program at a private fee-paying company between 1996 and 2008 in Taiwan revealed that active smokers (those engaged in at least moderate activity) were 55 percent more likely to quit smoking that those that were inactive.

Furthermore, these active smokers were 43 percent less likely to relapse than smokers that were inactive.

Physical activity among these subjects was also shown to increase life expectancy, even among smokers.

Smokers that participated in physical activity had an increased life expectancy of 3.7 years and a reduction in all-cause mortality of 23 percent - equivalent to levels achieved by ex-smokers with low activity levels.

The results also demonstrated that active ex-smokers increased their life expectancy by 5.6 years and reduced their all-cause mortality by 43 percent - equivalent to the levels seen in inactive non-smokers.

"Exercise can help smokers to quit and quitting smoking has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of developing CVD and that must be the goal of all smokers," C.P. Wen, National Health Research Institute, Taiwan, said.

"If smokers can continue to exercise, not only they can increase the quit rate, but also they can reduce their mortality for all cause and for CVD in the long run," Wen said.

The prospective study of 434,190 individuals in Taiwan was conducted over a period of 12 years. Leisure time physical activity of each individual was grouped into 1) Inactive, 2) Low active (15 minute per day), and 3) Active (30 minute per day).

The study has been presented at the World Congress of Cardiology organized by the World Heart Federation. (ANI)