Wearable Tech: What’s Next in Health Monitoring Technology?

As people become more and more health conscious and technology continues to evolve, it stands to reason that the two worlds collide. There are already plenty of wearable health monitoring devices on the market, allowing people to take a more hands-on approach to their health and wellness.

There’s a pretty good chance that you already have some of this technology on hand. Over the last several years, the world of health monitoring devices has changed drastically, which has been shown to improve the health of those who take full advantage of it.

Whether you already have some health monitoring technology on hand, or you’re interested in taking a technological approach to your wellness, learn more about what’s coming up next in the world of health technology.

The Rise of Continuous Health Monitoring

People have long been able to access some of the health monitoring technologies used in doctor’s offices. For instance, you probably have a blood pressure monitor in your home already. You may also have a pulse oximeter and something that measures your heart rate.

Several years back, tech companies realized that there was an untapped market for these devices, which is how we were introduced to phone apps that monitor respirations, heart rate, and more.

It didn’t take long for those same companies to realize that creating watches that measured those details would allow people to monitor their health more easily. This was especially groundbreaking for those who deal with chronic health issues, as it let them monitor any unusual symptoms.

Today, virtually everyone has a smart watch that’s capable of measuring their vital signs. Many of these devices and the apps that they usually link to also give people the option to store their long-term health data which not only helps them recognize trends and patterns in their vitals, but also gives them concrete information to be able to share with their physicians.

Heart Health Innovations

There are already heart health wearables that allow you to detect irregular heartrates and other cardiac symptoms. It’s common for issues like atrial fibrillation to go undetected, at least at first, allowing the problem to turn into something much more serious.

Some of the newest devices in this field send alerts if they detect an unusual heartrate. Heart disease is still the leading cause of death on a global scale which makes it crucial to give people as much information as possible. When it comes to cardiac issues, acting quickly is crucial.

Blood pressure monitoring technology is also incredibly popular when it comes to wearable health technology. This has proven to be a major step in the right direction when it comes to cardiovascular health tracking.

Some of the devices on the market today have sensors that can measure blood pressure levels through the skin, alerting your wearable device or your smartphone when your blood pressure gets too high or too low. This information allows users to better understand how diet, exercise, and other elements can impact their blood pressure.

Glucose Monitoring

Tech companies have yet to put out a product that would allow diabetics to monitor their blood glucose levels through a wearable device, but it’s widely believed that those tools are on the horizon.

Some of the leading names in wearable health devices are working to develop sensors that would allow users to monitor their blood glucose through their skin. This not only allows up-to-the-minute health information, but would also eliminate the need for finger pricking.

In a technical sense, there’s already some wearable glucose monitoring technology on the market, as users can have devices applied to their skin or even implanted. These devices then relay information to a device that the user scans over them.

Ultimately, these devices aren’t quite as comfortable as those that companies are working on may be. The goal is not only to provide more information about blood glucose levels in real time, but would also make this information more comfortable and accessible.

Stress and Sleep Cycle Measurements

Most of the smart watches that are on the market today can relay information about your sleep cycles to an app in your phone. When you wake up each morning, you may automatically check your sleep score to get a better idea of how much quality rest your body got the night before.

As psychologists, sleep experts, and other experts in the field continue to develop technology that would provide even more information.

We know that sleep is pivotal to your overall health and wellness, and this is especially true when it comes to stress management and mental health. That’s why a lot of the same technology that’s used to monitor sleep is also being implemented into stress measuring technology.

Some of these pieces of technology not only provide real-time data about stress, including respirations and heartrate, but also offer stress management techniques like breathing exercises.

Advanced Hydration and Temperature Measurements

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, monitoring temperatures became even more important than ever before. Since a fever was one of the first symptoms that most people experienced when dealing with the virus, having real-time data about internal temperature was crucial.

As the virus continues to evolve and mutate, that data can still be incredibly useful. As we find ourselves fully in the midst of flu season, being able to measure your temperature without having to stop and use a thermometer is a great way to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Hydration sensors are also becoming more and more popular, using sensors that measure the amount of sweat that users lose to remind them to drink water. This information is primarily marketed to runners and athletes, but there are also applications for people who work physically demanding jobs, especially in warm climates.

By preventing dehydration and reminding users when they need to drink, these companies are not only improving overall health, but are actually saving lives.

Embracing Health Through Technology

While it’s hard to fathom what may be next in the world of wearable health monitoring, it’s safe to say that only a decade ago, most people would’ve deemed it impossible to have a watch that could tell them how high their heartrate was and when they needed to drink water. Those things are very real today.

What’s next in this field? Only time will tell.