Health Tech to Know

Wearables have developed to the point where there are a great number of types of wearables that track an amazing number of things. Multiple sources discuss the ability of fitness trackers. P and Ruby (2023), state that fitness trackers can track one’s heart, their perspiration, blood oxygen levels, and even blood alcohol levels. They also state the fitness trackers are equipped with a number of devices, such as “…an accelerometer, gyroscopes, compass, GPS system, barometric altimeters, and other sensors.” (No page # provided). While as one might expect, fitness trackers can track steps, they can also monitor a person while they are swimming, specifically how many calories they burn while swimming (Salvo et al., 2010, as cited in P and Ruby 2023). Scripps (2024) also describes how fitness trackers can be used. Specifically, they state that they can be used to track “…steps, calories, distance, and sleep duration” (para. 14).

I would like to briefly touch on devices that are used to treat mental health. Masri et al. (2024) states that, “In the last decade, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies have been employed as therapeutic instruments for a variety of mental health conditions. Studies demonstrate positive results regarding both diagnostic and treatment efficacy.” (No page number provided). It is easy to believe that, as technology rapidly evolves, that it would eventually come to benefit and help people with mental health issues. It’s also worth noting that COVID-19 has pushed the need for such developments along (Masri et al., 2024).

As stated in a previous blog, wearables can also be used to track sleep (Boina, 2023). More specifically, they can “…track sleep duration, consistency, and quality by monitoring heart rate, motion, and breathing patterns. The data reveals issues like sleep debt, nighttime awakenings, light versus deep sleep percentages, and irregular schedules.”(Boina, 2023, p. 27. This is all very important, as people need a good night’s sleep to function. Once they are aware of what goes on with their bodies as they sleep, they can decide what next steps to take to fix their sleep cycles (Boina 2023).

We discussed medical-grade devices in an earlier blog. The article from Forbes, by Jiang Li, strongly advocated for the use of them. It is worth noting that medical-grade devices can track things such as “…heart rate, skin temperature, heart rate variability and respiratory rate.” (Li, 2024, para. 6). However, they are not the only types of devices that can do that. Li further advocates for the use of medical-grade devices by arguing that they provide a steady flow of data as people go about their daily lives, engaging in various activities and encountering various situations. While medical-grade devices may have their benefits, it is up to the individual and their doctor to determine what type of device to get.

There are many more devices that come in different forms, more than we have covered in this blog post. To conclude, I must again state that it is up to the reader to determine if they will be purchasing a wearable health device and if so, what device to get.

References

Boina, R. (2023). How wearable technology can promote health. Workforce Solutions Review, 4th Quarter 2023. 26-29. https://www.ihrim.org/2023/08/how-wearable-technology-can-promote-health/

Li, J. (2024, May 1). Wearable tech and BYOD: Benefits and risks in healthcare technology. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/05/01/wearable-tech-and-byod-benefits-and-risks-in-healthcare-technology/

Masri, D., Jaber, L., Mashal, R., Albourini, F., Alsaoud, M. A., & Al-Tarawneh, A. M. A. (2024). The role of wearables & technology in mental health: Review. 2024 2nd International Conference on Cyber Resilience (ICCR), Cyber Resilience (ICCR), 2024 2nd International Conference On, 1–5. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1109/ICCR61006.2024.10532880

P, J., & Ruby, E. D. K. (2023). A review on wearable device technology for healthcare industry applications. 2023 2nd International Conference on Ambient Intelligence in Health Care (ICAIHC), Ambient Intelligence in Health Care (ICAIHC), 2023 2nd International Conference On, 1–5. https://doi-org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1109/ICAIHC59020.2023.10430481

Scripps. (2024, May 10). Can wearable devices help with heart health? https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7771-can-wearable-devices-help-with-heart-health

Salvo, P., Di Francesco, F., Costanzo, D., Ferrari, C., Trivella, M. G., & De Rossi, D. (2010). A wearable sensor for measuring sweat rate. IEEE Sensors Journal, Sensors Journal, IEEE, IEEE Sensors J, 10(10), 1557–1558. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2010.2046634