Exercise can help you quit smoking!

For depressed smokers, kicking the butt is difficult but with little exercise, this goal can be achieved to a certain extent, a study says. People diagnosed with depression step out for a cigarette twice as often as smokers who are not dealing with a mood disorder.

Yet, a bit more exercise has been shown to reduce the compulsion to reach for a cigarette - even if it is not enough to alleviate the symptoms of the depression itself. 'We hope that these findings will encourage exercise in the treatment of both depression and smoking cessation,' said first author Paquito Bernard from University of Montpellier in France.

Based on an 18-month study, quitting was found to be easier during even the most basic workouts since withdrawal symptoms were reduced in the aftermath of regular walks. 'The findings revealed that those who struggle with mental illness simply have a tougher time quitting, no matter how much they want to,' added Gregory Moullec, a postdoctoral researcher affiliated with Concordia University's department of exercise science.

A person without clinical depression is better equipped to ride things out. 'Most people eager to break the habit would no doubt leap at the chance to shed their cravings through physical activity alone,' Moullec hoped. The study appeared in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research. (Read: 10 reasons smoking is bad for you )

Here are some things that happen inside your body when you smoke

Your first drag:

1. Whether you light your cigarette using a matchstick or a lighter, the first puff is the most damaging. The smoke emitted from the match and the cigarette form a strong cocktail that can leave the mucous lining in your nose damaged.

2. Apart from that the heat from the cigarette affects the skin on your face and most importantly around your nose and mouth. The heat causes your lips to darken, leads to wrinkles and the appearance of age spots. Another reason for darkening of a smokers lips is the fact that the tar in the cigarette tends to adhere to the lips, soon staining them.

3. Not to mention the constant pouting and sucking that one has to do in order to take a puff also leads to what is known as a smoker's pout. Where when you pout you will see the appearance of fine lines around the lips something that does not happen in non-smokers.

Read more about the 6 most common myths about smoking busted.

What the smoke does to the insides of your mouth:

4. When the smoke is inside your mouth, the tar starts to coat the enamel of your teeth, discolouring them.

5. The heat from the smoke also damages the cells in and around your mouth, and in some cases leading to a change in their DNA causing mutations. Once inside the mouth the tar and other chemicals affect all parts of your oral cavity. Read more about 25 things that happen inside your body when you smoke

With inputs from IANS

You might also like to read:

• Yogendra Pranayam 1 yoga pose to beat the ill-effects of smoking
• Quit smoking naturally the yoga way to kick the butt
• World No Tobacco Day 2014: How to identify and beat your smoking triggers

For more articles on diseases & conditions , visit our diseases & conditions section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.