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Wearable technology is saving lives. From health monitoring devices to smart health walking machines, smartwatches, smart clothing, and more. These devices are worn on the body to monitor, track, and analyze data in real time. For instance, the Apple Watch saved the life of biker Eric Zollinger. Here’s how. While biking in New York, he hit a pothole and was flung onto the pavement. He made it home but felt dizzy and fell in the bathroom. His Apple Watch triggered an alarm, and 911 was able to rescue him and save his life. A similar case is that of Kamron Jones in Delaware. He kept getting alerts from his smart watch that his heart rate was abnormally high. He assumed low energy after his bout of pneumonia. But decided to visit the hospital. Doctors diagnosed him with heart failure. At 22, he did not see it coming. His watch saved his life. With advancements in wearable tech, these smart devices are helping
manage chronic diseases, track fitness goals, and even detect health conditions. They play a crucial role in enhancing preventive care for the elderly, improving patient outcomes, and providing critical data to medical professionals. This blog explores the rewards, risks, challenges, and adoption of wearable devices in healthcare, with a special focus on wearable technology for elderly people and the future of wearable technology in healthcare.
A major benefit of wearable devices is the real-time monitoring of vital signs to detect health issues before they escalate to serious conditions.
Wearable technology can help reduce in-person visits to hospitals and allow for timely interventions for any serious complications.
Patients feel a sense of ownership of their health with wearables. The continuous feedback helps patients participate in managing their own health outcomes.
Healthcare professionals can use the data to provide personalised plans to patients. This leads to patients feeling a greater sense of ownership of their health.
Wearable technology for elderly people is a game changer for monitoring chronic conditions. These can alert caregivers about sudden falls and save lives.
The biggest concern surrounding wearable tech devices is data security. Users are worried about data misuse.
The downside could be patients with pre-conditions becoming obsessive about their condition with the gadget’s easy availability.
Users are sceptical and may not fully understand what they are signing up for when they accept the terms and conditions of wearable manufacturers. It raises ethical issues about the use of personal information by third parties.
Some patients may find it challenging to use the wearables and enter incorrect data.
Too much data could overwhelm patients and providers alike.
Wearable devices face huge challenges in working smoothly with different healthcare systems. The lack of standard formats makes it challenging to achieve the full benefits of the data from wearables.
Everyone may not have access to technology or the skill to use it effectively. Improving digital skills will help more people adopt wearables effectively.
Some research shows that too much health monitoring can harm people who have existing issues. This is called “pathologic symptom monitoring”. It is important to use wearables carefully.
Intuitive interfaces, easy-to-read displays, and clear navigation features all add to the success of wearables.
Fitness trackers that detect vigorous activity can switch to workout mode or prompt for hydration reminders, leading to tailored experiences.
Fun features can make the user experience engaging and interactive. Goal setting and community bonding can motivate users to regularly use wearables.
Looks matter. Wearables that look and feel good are likely to be worn regularly, more so for the elderly. They need light wearables, ergonomically designed and comfortable for prolonged use.
Power-efficient parts can help extend battery life without impacting performance. And regular software updates can minimize power consumption.
Form and function both matter for wearables. Smart glasses and smart rings are becoming popular. Some examples include:
• Smart glasses – Meta Ray-Ban, Amazon Echo Frames, Xreal Air 2s, Vuzix M400, and Nuance Audio Glasses
• Smart rings – Oura Ring 4, Samsung Galaxy Ring, Evie Ring, RingConn Gen 2, and Amazfit Helio Ring.
• AR Integration – Smart glasses use Augmented Reality (AR) to display information in real time. This helps in navigation and daily tasks, blending the real and digital worlds.
• Gesture Controls – Today, smart rings allow simple finger movements to control music or smart home devices, eliminating the need to touch the screen.
• Sustainability – Some brands are using eco-friendly materials like responsible sourcing of gemstones and recycled metals to attract eco-conscious customers.
Wearable technology is transforming the healthcare landscape with its innovative patient care and disease management. But like with any technological advances, data privacy and ethical dilemmas still need to be addressed. As the future of healthcare wearable tech continues to evolve, the need is to provide robust regulatory frameworks and security measures for greater adoption. Healthcare wearable devices are the need of the hour as they can empower patients and professionals, offering a bridge between technology and medicine to create a healthier world.
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