So why do people smoke, when we all know the facts about smoking and the effects on our health? The majority of people begin to smoke when friends or people around them smoke. The feeling of not wanting to be left out and just 'having one' puff of a cigarette or to simply to see what it is like is how many people begin to smoke. The first time people inhale smoke and even the first cigarette is often a very unpleasant experience for many people.

One cigarette leads to another and so on and over a very short period of time what started out as just one cigarette becomes a habit and the subconscious mind gets used to the high of a cigarette very quickly.

Sometimes smoking is a cover or blanket for many people-lack of confidence, insecurity, stress and 'helping people deal' with certain situations. People who are in stressful occupations find that they smoke as a part of a 'release' for the stress they experience. It is thought that smoking leads to calmness. In fact it leads to the opposite and smokers find that as soon as they have put one cigarette out they are left feeling anxious and nervous and are looking for the next cigarette.

Making the decision to become a non-smoker is one of the most important decisions that you can make, and making this decision puts you BACK IN CONTROL of your life.

There are three important factors that need to be tackled in order for you to become a non-smoker. These are the emotional addiction, habitual addiction and the physical addiction and by tackling these three factors is the best way to become a non-smoker!!

Taking the decision to become a non-smoker and acting on this decision puts you back in control of your life and is beneficial for your physical health and well being.

Look at the list below to see what positive effects becoming smoke-free has on your body:

• 20 minutes - Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal.
  
  
• 8 hours - Nicotine and carbon monoxide levels reduce by half, oxygen levels return to normal.
  
  
• After 24 hours - Carbon monoxide is completely eliminated from your body and your lungs start to clear mucus and other smoking related debris.
  
  
• After 48 hours - There is no nicotine left inside your body and your senses of taste and smell are greatly improved.
  
  
• After 72 hours - Your breathing becomes easier as your bronchial tubes begin to relax. Your energy levels increase dramatically.
  
  
• 2-12 weeks later - Your circulation improves greatly.
  
  
• 3-9 months later - Your lung function improves by up to 10%, improving coughs, wheezes and breathing problems.
  
  
• 1 year later - Your risk of having a heart attack falls to about half of that of a smoker.
  
  
• 10 years later - Your risk of lung cancer falls to half of that of a smoker.
  
  
• 15 years later - Your risk of heart attack falls to the same as someone who has never smoked.

During the initial consultation we will discuss your life-style, the amount of cigarettes you smoke, the reasons for your smoking and other important factors. By taking all these factors into account and by tailoring each session on an individual basis is the best way to become a non-smoker.