title: The effects of acute exercise on tobacco cravings and withdrawal symptoms in temporary abstinent pregnant smokers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smoking during pregnancy is common, and quitting at any point during pregnancy can yield benefits to both the fetus and mother. Smoking cessation is typically followed by withdrawal symptoms and a strong desire to smoke, both of which are likely to contribute to relapse. Research has shown that a bout of exercise minimizes cravings and tobacco withdrawal symptoms (TWS) after temporary abstinence in smokers, but these findings have not been replicated in pregnant smokers. This study examined the effect of 20min of exercise on cravings (primary outcome) and TWS (secondary outcomes) among temporary abstinent, inactive pregnant smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty female smokers (Mean(M) age=25.7years, Standard Deviation(SD)=5.5; M weeks pregnant=18.2, SD=5.3; Fagerstrom Test for Cigarette Dependence=3.3, SD=2.2; M 9.3 cigarettes/day, SD=4.7; M hours abstained=17.2, SD=2.8) were randomized to 20 min of mild-to-moderate intensity exercise (EC; n=14) or passive (PC; n=16) condition. Cravings and TWS were assessed immediately before, during (at 10 min), immediately post, and at 10, 20, and 30 min post-condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 2 (condition)×6 (time) repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the EC significantly (p<0.05) reduced cravings (ή(2)=0.46) compared with the PC, across time. Non-significant, but nevertheless, large effects were evident favouring the EC over time for TWS restlessness (ή(2)=0.34), stress (ή(2)=0.24), irritability (ή(2)=0.21), tension (ή(2)=0.15), and depression (ή(2)=0.14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consistent with previous research, this study reveals that in pregnant smokers, a bout of exercise is associated with a reduction in cravings and similar patterns exist for TWS. Therefore, exercise may have the potential to assist in the initial stages of smoking cessation attempts during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada. Electronic address: hprapave@uwo.ca.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prapavessis
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Jesus
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cramp
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada.
authors.forename: Lyndsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fitzgeorge
authors.affiliation: University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada.
authors.forename: Michelle F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mottola
authors.affiliation: University College London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 ORE, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ussher
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, 55 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2W6 Canada.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faulkner
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, 55 Harbord Street, Toronto, ON M5S 2W6 Canada.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Selby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000523:psychology*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Cravings; Pregnancy; Smoking cessation; Withdrawal symptoms