• Ahmet Sarıtoy and Serkan Usgu.
• Provincial Health Department, Tilmerç Health Center, Batman, Turkey.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2023 Jun 1; 192 (3): 150515161505-1516.

BackgroundThere is a worldwide struggle to quit smoking and prevent relapsing. Aerobic exercises are frequently utilized to aid in smoking cessation and prevent relapse.AimsThis study aimed to investigate the effects of aerobic exercises of different intensity on the level of anxiety, smoking addiction, and quality of sleep and life in former smokers.MethodsThe study included 60 people aged 18 to 45 who had quit smoking within the previous month. Individuals were randomly assigned to control (CON), mild-intensity aerobic activity (MIA), and moderate-intensity aerobic activity (MoIA) groups. The MIA group did submaximal aerobic exercises at 40% of maximum heart rate (MHR), while the MoIA group did them at 60% of MHR for 8 weeks/3 days. Participants' anxiety levels were assessed using the Beck Anxiety Scale (BAS), smoking addiction was assessed using the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence and Substance Craving Scale (SCS), sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 Short Form Scale (SF-36).ResultsThe SCS score of the MoIA group declined more than the MIA and CON groups, and the MIA group had a lower sleep disturbance score than other groups when the influence of exercise training was assessed over time (p < 0.05). Aerobic exercise had no influence on SF-36 or BAS scores (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe benefits of mild and moderate aerobic exercise on quality of life and anxiety are similar. However, mild-intensity aerobic exercises may be suitable for sleep difficulties while moderate-intensity aerobic exercises may be preferred for reducing smoking addiction.© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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