I Just Quit Smoking In An Instant

I just quit smoking in an instant. Quite a feat I should say. I started smoking at the young age of thirteen. I still recall the feeling of being able to smoke without guilt or fear of being chided by my parents. 

How Did I Start Smoking?

I would always pick up still lighted cigarette butts and try to have a puff or two and one time my father caught me smoking and actually got some beating. He told me I can have vices such smoking if I already have a job and earnings for myself that will sustain whatever addiction I will get into, luckily or not I am one in those statistics who need to work at the very early age just to help augment our household income. And guess what on my first paycheck, I bought a pack of cigarette and smoke right in front of my father, and he knows what it was meant and not a single word he uttered. 

Fortunately for the last 11 seven years, I’ve stopped smoking. How I did it? Simply I stopped. No rituals. No slow withdrawal. No counseling. No rehabilitation. No magic formula. I just decided that day I will quit smoking and that was it.

 

Was it difficult? Not really but the challenge is actually on fighting against the urge of smoking again.  Prior to this I already stopped and have not smoked for more than 3 years, but beer, alcohol and even coffee are some kind of stimulant that will urge me to smoke again. In one instance at a small gathering where they served beer, I tried to light a few sticks just to go with the beer, but willingly it brought me back to smoking again and it lasted for about a month after which I decided just to put a stop on it again.

So you may ask, how can I do it just to stop smoking in an instant?

I supposed it is will power!

I willed to stop or quit smoking because of its harsh effect on my health. Although am not diagnosed with any lung sickness or any ailment due to smoking, I decided that I don’t have to wait for it to happen. Sooner than later it will just come like a thief, you not knowing you have been robbed of a number of years of your precious life.

I have known some person who died of lung cancer due to smoking, seen and read articles about the harmful effect of nicotine and in fact the government had banned commercial in all forms pertaining to smoking and yet people will still puff some cigarette , what is alarming is the fact the younger generation is being hooked on smoking. 

I would like to put some space and effort in writing about the harmful effect of smoking on human’s health and hoping that the little contribution I can share in the campaign against smoking. 

Now am nicotine free. How about you? Stop Smoking! If I can quit smoking you can! 

Final Thoughts On Smoking

Smoking tobacco or cigarette has no health benefit whatsoever and in fact very destructive.  This page is not enough to contain the details and statics of bad effects smoking can give to your health. Quitting is a must if you want to live longer and free from harm of tobacco smoking. Not sure where and how to start? Click on this link for help.  https://www.rd.com/health/wellness/quit-smoking/

Blood Pressure. How I Monitor Mine While Trekking

Blood pressure is 130/90 on a normal day, just within the acceptable limit, and sometimes it goes beyond to 140/100. I have my blood pressure monitored by our company nurse, and lately, I bought an electronic blood pressure monitor to have my BP checked constantly even at home.

My name is Leon. I am turning 58 years old this coming September. My vital signs are all OK except that I am hypertensive, meaning that my blood pressure can shoot up to over 130/80- the now controversial guideline to indicate hypertension.

My New Hobby

I got this Canon 80D DLSR camera that I am learning how to use. This got me to what I have been dreaming of learning a long time ago- photography. I like taking pictures of any subject that might interest me, but the top of my pick is landscape.

Lately, I have also been trekking mountain heights and I got the opportunity to take some pictures of mountain ranges, summits, trees, and trails. This requires me, of course, to climb up mountains- a rather strenuous activity for my age and a challenge that I am not fazed by.

What About My Blood Pressure?

People with medical conditions such as heart or cardiovascular disease and hypertension, among others, are forbidden to go mountain climbing due to the risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke caused by high blood pressure. Yet I won’t budge and will continue to scale heights with my camera.

My baptism of fire happened last year when my family and I went to scale Mt. Daraitan- a 739-meter summit with 5/9 difficulty scale- in Tanay, Rizal. I never expected the challenge and it almost knocked me out of my breath. I was terribly exhausted; my body was aching and my legs were trembling due to fatigue. The problem was I didn’t have any idea about my blood pressure; I was just waiting for myself to pass out actually, but I did survive.

My Mother Mountain - 739 meters Mr. Daraitan with 5/9 Difficulty Scale

Not having to monitor my blood pressure was a bit scary and foolish. Therefore, on my next climb, I wore something that would allow me to track and manage my blood pressure anywhere and anytime.

Smart Wearable Blood Pressure Wrist Watch

I now wear a  smartwatch that measures blood pressure using Pulse Transit Time (PTT), a system that has been studied extensively as a non-invasive alternative to blood pressure measurement. It also includes functions such as Passometer, Sleep Tracker, Heart Rate Tracker,  Fitness Tracker, and Countdown.

With my Smart Wrist Watch, I was able to track and manage my blood pressure when we climbed Mt. Ulap. I was very much aware of my blood pressure condition all throughout, from ascending to descend. Since hypertension does not show signs before it occurs, I was able to check my BP when it reaches 160/100 at the summit that signaled  I should take a little break and enjoy the majestic views which somehow soothed me and helped me get my BP to a much desirable level.

I am now wearing a less expensive Teepao Fitness Tracker Ip67 Waterproof Smart Wristband Pedometer Sports Bracelet with High-Definition Display Screen equipped with Heart Rate Monitor, Blood Oxygen Monitor, Heart Rate Blood Pressure, just like what I am wearing in those pictures.

With My Canon 80D and  Teepao Fitness Tracker - Perfect

It has the following Features and benefits:

• A Fashionable Design & Exquisite Workmanship Stainless steel watch surface, a precision bonding process, nano tpu85 material strap, anti-sweat matte finish, ergonomic design, and soft straps that make wearing more comfortable
• IP67 Waterproof- allowing you to wash hands or take a shower with the smart band on, effectively protecting the device from brief soaking
• Heart Rate & Sleep Monitoring - Wearing the smart bracelet to sleep, you will know your sleep quality data, and then adjust yourself for a healthier lifestyle
• All-day Activity Tracking Accurately records the activities of the whole day like steps, distance, active minutes, calories burned, and sleep status; and
• Call Synchronous call alerts and social apps alert like Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, etc. so you never miss important messages or events

I consider smart wrist watches as a supplement rather than a replacement to the Sphygmomanometer being administered by your nurses or doctors. I recommend that you discuss with your cardiologist your intent to purchase wearable blood pressure monitor so that you can work together in monitoring your blood pressure.

Final Thoughts: Blood Pressure Needs Constant Monitoring.

Hypertension is a serious medical condition that needs immediate and constant attention.  In this reason that millions of hypertensive patients like me opted to purchase a wearable blood pressure monitor to keep updated with our health conditions. This allows us to check on our blood pressure level at any time in the comfort of our own place, saving us from the effort of going to our nearest doctor or hospital.

Also, the need to collect and record data on how blood pressure fluctuates during the day in various situations or activities is not possible with sphygmomanometer-whether manual or digital- due to its size.

With smart wristwatch, you can capture and record natural fluctuations of blood pressure while you are at work or doing some outdoor and sports activities. This wealth of data could help doctors make better-informed decisions when it comes to the treatment of hypertension. This is a surprisingly difficult challenge, given that only one-third of those diagnosed with hypertension achieve blood pressure control within normal values.

Mt. Ulap. An Exhilarating Experience With My Team Mates

Mt Ulap. Located in Itogon Benguet, it is a mountain range became the popular destination for beginners that would like to enjoy Cordilleras scenic view while trekking the grassland and pine tree ridges which I myself enjoyed the most.

The refreshing smell of those pine trees, the grasses laced with flowers and the intricate rock formations made our hiking breathtaking. There were steep climbs but those are a lot easier than the previous mountain I went up. The awesome views and scenic spots made me forget about the fatigue I was experiencing and I am so delighted that I was able to capture those with my camera.

Reaching those summits was some kind of a little feat. The moment we reached the top we gazed through our surroundings and what an awesome view it was, and there were those clouds providing a magnificent experience and backdrop.

Most notable of the places we went to was Mt. Gungal with a bulldoze rock formation so imposing as If taking guard of the entire mountain ranges. It is a must to have your picture taken as an imprimatur that you have been to Mt. Ulap but I passed the opportunity, I don’t have the guts to stand on that edge with no safety harness.

Then from the summit, we descended through those makeshift stairs which made it a little faster and little comfortable thou descending from any mountain for me is a bit more challenging and tiring than ascending.

We stop by what they call a local “Mini Stop”, a makeshift store who offers refreshment.

Then we continued with descending and finally reached the 9-kilometer mark that means our exciting journey it's just about to end.

Next stop? Mt. Pulag.