by James Buthman

Created on: October 18, 2008   Last Updated: October 30, 2008

Strange Bedfellows: Smoking and Exercise

I smoke. Have for twenty years. I can feel the effects more each year. I consider quitting. Tried many times but to no avail. If, like me, you have been unable to kick the habit, it is vital you begin exercising. Smoking restricts your lung capacity and can clog arteries. Getting up and out builds up your cardiovascular capabilities. Walking, running, biking, or swimming builds up your immune system, opens your lungs, and strengthens your heart.

As a smoker, I realize the necessity of exercise. For years I ran ultra-marathons in the hills of Arizona. I still hike and bike but would find it harder to finish thirty miles now. It is apparent from all the medical research exercising is critical for all people's health. Smokers, however, must realize it is even more important for us. Without it, the future is sure to be filled with oxygen tanks and problems getting out and doing the things which make life worth living.

If you smoke and do not exercise regularly, the carcinogens build up in your system and your lungs and heart work harder than they would if you were a non-smoker. You don't have to start running five miles every day in order to accomplish tremendous benefits which will counteract some of the problems which arise from smoking. The most common suggestion is to get out for twenty to thirty minutes three days a week.

You can begin by taking comfortable walks around the block. You can even park your car at the far end of the mall parking lot to ramp up your exercise regime. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. There are many ways you can actually make yourself feel better and extend the healthy portion of life while reducing the negative effects of smoking.

Physical activity will allow you to feel better. If you start by walking three days a week, you may wind up enjoying yourself and adding an extra day. It is so easy to not do it and just light up another, but every time you do a little bit, you will feel a little bit better.

Our bodies are wondrous machines. The benefit non-smokers gain from abstaining from smoking are tremendous. They do not have the same pressure exerted on their hearts and they are far less likely to experience the same restrictions on the ability of their lungs to do the job they are supposed to do. The result is that exercise helps to heal conditions which are exacerbated by smoking.

Every smoker knows it is the truth. The thing is, if you like smoking and are not willing or able to quit, you should take measures to keep yourself as healthy as you can be. There is no reason you should not take steps to better health simply because you smoke. This makes it all the more critical that you take action starting today.

I have been told by people who frown on smokers that I shouldn't exercise like I do because I am negating it with my habit. This statement could not be farther from the truth or more ignorant. It is precisely because I smoke that hiking and biking are staples in my life. I can feel the air flowing through my lungs when I push myself. I enjoy breathing the mountain air when I hike. If you smoke, you should at least be taking action to strengthen your organs. You will feel better and be healthier and this is the bottom line.

Learn more about this author, James Buthman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.