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	Ever felt like a cigarette was giving you much-needed relief from stress? Well, a new study shows that far from relieving stress, smoking can increase it.</p>
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	Smokers have a 70% increased risk of anxiety and depression compared with non-smokers, debunking the belief that smoking helps with stress, the researchers said.</p>
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	The report, which surveyed nearly 6,500 people over the age of 40, found that 18.3% of smokers reported suffering depression and anxiety compared with 10% of non-smokers and 11.3% of ex-smokers.</p>
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	Dr Mike Knapton, British Heart Foundation&rsquo;s associate medical director, said: &ldquo;There is a belief from many smokers that smoking reduces anxiety and stress, which is in turn causing many smokers to put off quitting.</p>
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	&ldquo;Yet, instead of aiding people to relax, smoking increases anxiety and tension. When smokers light up, the feeling of reduced stress or relaxation is temporary and is soon replaced by withdrawal symptoms and cravings. While smoking temporarily reduces these cravings and feelings of withdrawal &ndash; which are similar to feeling anxious or stressed &ndash; it does not reduce or treat the underlying causes of stress.</p>
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	&ldquo;Dispelling the myth that smoking is a stress reliever should be another motivating reason to finally kick the habit this No Smoking Day. We&rsquo;re asking smokers to mark Wednesday 11 March on their calendars and join the nearly one million people who are expected to use the day to quit.&rdquo;</p>
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	Nearly one in five UK adults smoke, increasing the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke and a variety of cancers.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/science-world/smoking-doesnt-relieve-your-stress--it-increases-it-314838.html">http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/science-world/smoking-doesnt-relieve-your-stress--it-increases-it-314838.html</a></p>
