Regular weekly exercise may help smokers over the age of 40 lower their risks of depression and sleep disturbances, bringing them closer to the levels seen in non-smokers. This conclusion is based on a study by the Texas A&M University School of Public Health, which investigated the relationship between smoking, physical activity, and mental and sleep health.
The researchers found that smokers generally had higher rates of moderate to severe depressive symptoms and sleep disorders compared with non-smokers. The problem was most evident among adults aged 40 to 59 who did not meet recommended physical activity levels, as they were especially likely to experience poor mental health and disrupted sleep. Among smokers aged 60 and older, sleep disorders were pervasive, though regular physical activity appeared to reduce these risks to levels comparable with those of non-smokers.
Current American guidelines recommend adults engage in about 300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 150 minutes of vigorous activity each week, or an equivalent combination. The study, published in Health Education & Behavior, suggested that adhering to these guidelines can make a measurable difference for smokers in mid and later life, protecting against the adverse effects of both depression and poor sleep.
Lead author Taehyun Roh, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, explained the interplay between these conditions: “Each of these has interconnected physiological and psychological pathways that potentially could affect the others. The neurochemical changes triggered by smoking can make depressive symptoms worse, which in turn can harm sleep quality, while physical activity can improve both conditions.”
The analysis drew on data from 3,008 adults in the United States, taken from the 2017–2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationwide study conducted annually by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. While the benefits of exercise were evident for older smokers, the results were more complex among younger adults. Smokers aged 20 to 39 who exercised regularly continued to report higher rates of sleep disorders compared with non-smokers, a finding the researchers believe may be linked to the severity of smoking habits or the timing and type of exercise.
Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, strongly associated with diseases such as lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the United States, nearly one in five adults smokes, while one in three experiences sleep disorders and one in twelve reports depressive symptoms. The findings of this study underline the importance of both regular physical activity and smoking cessation, highlighting that while exercise can mitigate some of the health risks faced by smokers, quitting remains the most effective step towards long-term well-being.
More information: Jeong-Hui Park et al, Impact of Physical Activity on Smoking, Sleep Disorders, and Depression Among U.S. Adults, Health Education & Behavior. DOI: 10.1177/10901981251362818
Journal information: Health Education & Behavior Provided by Texas A&M University
