How to Live Well Through Wearables

Can you imagine walking in a world with a blindfold?

To truly live a healthy and fulfilling life, you must have access to the correct information – which is only possible by using wearable technology that uncovers your health secrets.

So, if you are tired of feeling disconnected from your health and want to take control of your wellness and live your best life, then take the blinders off with wearables.

This blog post will show you how to use the latest and greatest wearable technology to track your activity and sleep patterns and even improve your mental health.

Whether a tech novice or a gadget guru, you’ll find something valuable in this post. So don’t wait any longer; learn how to live well through wearables today!

Learn how to live well with wearable technology

With 84% of the world’s population owning a smartphone and over 600 million wearable units expected to be sold in 2022, it’s no wonder this market has grabbed a lot of attention, but why?

Wearable technology has been around for decades, but health trackers dominate the growing demand for these connected devices.

As we strive to live healthier and more active lifestyles, many of us are turning to wearables to help us meet our fitness goals. But did you know that wearables can also be used to track and improve your health in other ways?

So, Why the interest?

Because people are looking for more control over their health and fitness, they want to take proactive measures to monitor the data and manage it accordingly.

Even with the simple act of walking can be measured to make sure you are producing the right output.

It’s no secret the most common health issues pertain to lack of physical activity, proper nutrition, and mental health, which lead to obesity and heart disease. Wearables make it easier by collecting data to improve the quality of life.

Wearables yield a wealth of health data

Activity-tracking devices like smartwatches and other wearable devices have far more functions than counting the number of steps you have taken or logging how many calories you burned.

Because wearables are equipped with sensors, they have been developed to track various health metrics, including heart rate, respiration, skin temperature, blood pressure, and other vital signs.

This data can be used to detect early signs of illness, monitor stress levels, and optimize sleep quality. Some wearables also offer features like atrial fibrillation, fall detection, and GPS tracking, which can be extremely valuable in an emergency.

Suppose you compare a picture to a video. In that case, you can capture a deeper story with the video. This consistent health data from daily activity gives the user a better understanding of their behaviors, trends, and progress over time.

In addition, seeing this information broken down into meaningful chunks allows for more accurate goal-setting and better decision-making regarding health, fitness, and a healthy diet.

But the question is, what do you do with all this data?

This question can get a little overwhelming but don’t worry, with growing adoption and community support, it will become more apparent, but the critical step is to start. Then, it is crucial to understand that not all data is created equal. 

Just because a wearable device tracks a particular health metric does not mean that one data set determines your overall health. Instead, it will require you to see a baseline level and check your ranges around them, which is most evident in the most critical metric- glucose control.

Which wearable device tracks this data?

Selecting a device depends on what you have now. For example, do you need to accept phone calls or count steps?

💡Start with your trusted partners in software like an Apple watch or a smartwatch by Google. 

But, if more data is helpful, you may lean towards a Fitbit Flex, Whoop, or a smart ring. It will be interesting to see what the new Apple watch will have as to new health sensors. 

Cost, features, and in-depth reviews will undoubtedly be a deciding factor, but whichever wearable technology fits you, collecting data will allow for a much deeper understanding of your health.

What is the essential wearable?

An incredible amount of data can be used to improve the quality of life for a happier life. Still, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor that captures real-time data on glucose levels will prove to be the most important because of the vast medical conditions that stem from out-of-control glucose levels.

A tiny sensor under the skin transmits this data to an app on the user’s smartphone, which generates easy-to-read graphs and charts. This data is collected, stored, and available for you to share with healthcare providers and spot potential issues with control.

If you have read my story, you would know a CGM was particularly valuable to me and is for many people that manage diabetes, as they provide a complete picture of blood sugar levels than finger-prick tests. Still, the benefits go beyond managing diabetes.

With half a billion people worldwide with diabetes, and an estimated 38% of the U.S. adult population alone having prediabetes, glucose monitoring is vital to the health of many individuals.

Conventional consumers would not normally consider how long-term elevated blood glucose damages the body’s organs, but this silent killer can sneak up on everyone. This wearable device is a very low-risk, highly rewarded medical device to prevent long-term health damage.

Cost, you ask?

Wearables vary from $50 to $500 when looking at bands, watches, and rings. The average monthly cost of a CGM is in the range of $160-$500, or an average of $10 a day. But before you cringe at the cost, consider that the average healthcare spend is $12,530 per year and grows 10% annually. 

Doesn’t it make sense to spend a little now to have a healthy life?

The critical consideration is that the healthcare industry is evolving, and spending is a burden. Spending a little on wearables to improve health can drastically relieve this higher long-term burden if individuals take action now.

The Verdict – How do wearable devices add value?

With its powerful insight into an individual’s metabolic condition and how it is affected by everyday activities, exercise, stress levels, and sensitivity to carbohydrates in foods, this tool offers a distinct edge over the competition.

How are wearables expanding markets?

The Wearable Technology trend has exploded. In 2019, the global market for wearables was $52.5 billion, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.4% from 2020 to 2027 to reach $215.6 billion by 2027

What’s the secret behind this growth?

The answer lies in the data that these devices generate. Now, it’s heart rate, steps taken, quality of sleep, and more, but the future is the growing demand to share their data with their coaches, providers, and insurers to improve the standard of care and the costs associated with them.

As mentioned earlier, having a clear focus to provide insights that can help people make informed health and fitness decisions is essential for successful weight loss. However, there are cases where medical assistance may be needed to achieve the desired results.

Impact of wearable healthcare technology?

Wearables have been a part of healthcare for quite a while now with heart rate, EKG, Nerve stimulators, etc., but a big wave of Digital Health is continuing the development.

Over the past few years, wearables are making an impact beyond the hospital bed by using wearable devices when the patients are not sitting in a hospital bed. 

These medical devices collect the data to communicate to their providers about their progress for the providers to be more responsive in managing patient care.

Even though the organization of this data will be a challenge and new algorithms need to be created to be accurate and helpful, the development of the technology is exciting to see what is possible.

Examples of Wearable Devices in Healthcare

Recent clinical data publications are starting to spend money on evaluating early respiratory detection by working with patients by consistently monitoring the data to treat irregularities earlier. For example, now that the ECG app assesses heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation, early intervention could prevent significant heart failure.

One simple example can be applied to improving patient outcomes

Practicing proper techniques with all of these new healthy activities is ideal. Still, if you may have an unfortunate injury and need medical care, wearable technology can assist in recovery.

Introducing wearable technology with Bluetooth data representing leg angles can assist with therapy. The device can monitor how the patient is currently performing the necessary exercises to assess recovery, and the data is then sent directly to doctors.

Being in the medical industry for over 20 years, I can attest that the common goal of optimal patient outcomes continues to drive decisions.

Questions can be: What does the data show? What do the patients know? What are the expectations? How do the education and intervention yield results?

The existing ability of the technology today and the future development is fascinating. For wearables to become a staple in the medical industry and not just a trend, we need to see more clinical evidence with research. The data is there, but we need the case studies and long-term outcomes to show that this technology can impact patients’ lives in a meaningful way.

What do you need today?

Identify an essential health concern today, and find a wearable that will benefit your health.

Start collecting the data and improve your metrics. If you are considering wearing a sensor to monitor blood sugar levels, seek a CGM that is easy, accurate, has tracking software to assess the information, and can share it with your doctors.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages?

Advantages

• More visibility of current health
• More real-time data on vital signs
• Easy software for users
• Whether it’s fitness trackers or CGMs, to know how your body reacts to certain activities or food instantly… No Guessing

Disadvantages/ Objections

• Battery Life
• Accuracy
• Data communication with Healthcare Providers and the security needed to protect patient information

Conclusion

Living a life of wellness can mean many things to many people, and it all depends on where you are in your wellness journey.

While the health benefits of wearables are well-documented, it’s important to remember that these devices are not a replacement for traditional medical care.

Instead, they should be used as a supplement to help you live healthier lives. So start getting fit today and consider a wearable.