Smokers told: Quit in order to be fit

SMOKERS should quit to be fit this Ash Wednesday because being active is a lot harder after pulling on a cigarette, the Irish Cancer Society has warned.

Research also shows smokers are less likely to participate in sports and physical activity because of the extra effort involved.

When active, smokers are more easily exhausted, suffer shortness of breath, have reduced endurance and physical performance.

The society’s health promotion manager, Norma Cronin, has given a graphic description of how smoking just one cigarette can immediately affect physical capability.

Performance is impaired because the inhaled carbon monoxide binds to red blood cells, displacing oxygen and preventing its delivery to muscle cells.

Smoking also constricts blood vessels that prevents the proper redistribution of blood and oxygen to the muscles during exercise.

“So if you really want to be physically fit, it pays to quit,” she said.

Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are poisonous. Sixty of them are known to be cancer causing.

Also, smoking is the most important preventable cause of cancer and is responsible for 30% of all cancers.

The poisons that really impair sports performance are carbon monoxide, nicotine and tar.

Carbon monoxide also causes swelling of the respiratory tract lining, restricting the air moving into and out of the lungs.

Nicotine increases the heart rate, which means a smoker’s heart has to work much harder to produce the same effect as a non-smoker’s heart. It also causes the blood vessels to constrict, reducing blood flow and increasing blood pressure.

Tar causes reduced elasticity of the lungs, resulting in less air being breathed in and out.

“The good news, however, is that individuals who exercise regularly are less likely to smoke and engaging in exercise may also help smokers to quit,” said Ms Cronin.

She said smokers were actually more likely to quit at increasing levels of exercise. Also, people who quit smoking showed improved exercise performance compared with those who continued.

It is estimated that 25% of the population smoke and on National No Smoking Day the society will be urging them to take their Quit to be Fit challenge.

Support is available through the National Smokers Quitline at 1850 201203.

The line is operated by the Health Services Executive in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society and is open seven days a week from 8am to 10am.