Exercise may Help Pregnant Women Quit Smoking

Doctors often advise women to quit smoking during pregnancy as it may increase their risk of miscarriage, but it is really hard for some to kick the smoking habit. Now, scientists have presented a simple method for pregnant women that they claim would significantly help them in quitting smoking habit.

A pregnant woman who is a heavy smoker and unable to quit should try exercising, suggest a new study by the British researchers who found a link between physical exertion and smoking cessation.

Study researchers, including Dr Michael Ussher and colleagues from the University of London, other universities and hospitals in the UK, the US and Spain who reported their findings in the peer-reviewed medical journal BMC Public Health, claim even just one day of exercise a week during pregnancy could help a women quit smoking before giving birth.

There were two small studies reported in this ‘Health’ publication - one received no external funding and the other was funded by the NHS (National Health Service) - that showed a quarter of study subjects who exercised regularly while expecting a baby succeeded in quitting smoking.

All the study women in these two pilot studies were over 18 years of age who smoked at least one cigarette a day and were 12 to 20-weeks pregnant. All the study participants received counseling and help to quit smoking.

In the first trial, women underwent a once-a-week exercise session for six weeks under supervision, which consisted of moderate intensity exercise like walking in the local area or using an antenatal exercise DVD for 30 minutes.

In the second trial, women received two sessions a week for six weeks that consisted of 20 to 30 minutes walking or using an exercise DVD at home, or exercise equipment at the hospital, and one session a week for the next three weeks that consisted of using a 20–30 minutes of treadmill or stationary bicycle at the hospital.

Across both studies, the researchers found that eight or 25% of the 32 women who reported that they smoked nine cigarettes a day on average managed to keep from smoking up to their eight month of pregnancy.

Besides kicking the smoking habit, many of the study subjects reported they had fewer cravings for cigarettes. They also managed to shed their extra pounds and developed a better self image.

"Our findings suggest that a physical activity intervention is feasible and acceptable as an aid to smoking cessation during pregnancy" lead researchers Michael Ussher said in a statement.

"These results are very encouraging and we are now conducting a randomized controlled trial with 850 women," he said adding that "regular exercise is ideal for any pregnant women who smoke as it's obviously safe and the benefits are enormous."

According to the study authors, an estimated 17 percent of British women and 20 percent of American women admit they smoke during pregnancy.

Smoking during pregnancy can harm the health of both a woman and her fetus. In an earlier research it has been found that those who quit smoking while pregnant have the most easy-going infants.

Nicotine plays a key role in causing adverse pregnancy outcomes. It nearly doubles a woman's risk of having a low birth-weight baby.