Is it time to upgrade that old blood pressure cuff for a smarter, more advanced device? Or maybe you’re looking for an affordable fitness tracker to keep up with your cardiac health. Well, you’ve found the right post. We’ve compiled a list of helpful wearable health gadgets that you may have never heard about.
As we get older, it becomes more important to keep our health in check. For those of us who struggle with conditions like diabetes, heart disease, asthma or other chronic illness, monitoring our conditions is necessary to prevent future health issues that might result in unwanted trips to the doctor or stays in the hospital. And let’s not forget the high costs of additional medications to regulate our condition. By incorporating some of the useful tools and gadgets listed here, you can take charge of your health by becoming more aware of how your body reacts to certain stimuli, food, drink, or workouts.
Sometimes seniors need a little extra push into the age of technology. Besides, we all know the learning curve can be steep with some tech products, and while that can be frustrating, resisting technology also results in missing out on smart health monitoring systems that could transform lives.
We’ve tried to pick some of the most useful, affordable and easy-to-use items available on the market today with the goal of improving the day-to-day health of the over 65 population.
10 Wearable Health Gadgets That Will Improve Your Life
1. The Amazfit Bip
What is it for? To give you extra incentive to get active and provide you with a wealth of statistics on your workouts and general health so you have the data you need to achieve your fitness goals.
Fitness trackers. Let’s talk about them. Do you keep hearing people talk about how many steps they counted on their FitBit? Did they meet all their weekly step goals? The Fitbit is nice, isn’t it? But why are the higher end models so expensive? If you can’t imagine spending a few hundred bucks on a wearable fitness tracker, then we’ve found a comparable smart fitness device that was made just for you.
This wearable device combines a fitness tracker with a smartwatch. Weighing only 1.1 oz, it’s one of the lightest smartwatches out there. Besides, it monitors heart rate, tracks steps and distance traveled, counts your calories and measures your quality of sleep. And if you’re concerned about battery life and the annoyance of recharging on a nightly basis, leave your worry behind. The Amazfit Bip boasts 30 days of continuous wear powered by only one 2.5 hour charge.
But we’re still not finished listing its positives. For those of you who pride yourselves on being tech-savvy, the Amazfit allows you to receive notifications for emails, texts and incoming phone calls. You can also check the local weather forecast, and if you’re into social media, then you have the option of linking your Facebook and Twitter as well as many other social apps. The best part about this device is the very reasonable price. At below $80, this makes the Bip an extremely competitive fitness option.
You can find more details about Amazfit Bip here.
2. The AliveCor KardiaMobile Personal EKG
What is it for? To detect Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia or Normal Heart Rhythm in 30 seconds.
While we’re on the topic of wearable fitness trackers, let’s discuss the need some of us have to monitor our hearts on a more consistent basis. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a wearable tracker for that purpose? Well, technology has advanced to meet this need. Those who have suffered from atrial fibrillation or other cardiac conditions often need to know how their heart is performing in the moment. In the past, the only way to find out was by hooking up to an EKG machine or traveling to the doctor’s office. But not anymore.
With the FDA-Cleared AliveCor KardiaMobile you can take unlimited medical-grade EKGs anytime, anywhere. No subscription required. Moreover, you can store your EKGs on your phone, and email to your doctor with the press of a button.
And what’s best, it’s super simple to use. Simply place your fingers on the sensor. No wires, patches or gels required.
For more information click here.
3. Withings Blood Pressure Monitor
What is it for? To easily monitor your blood pressure at home or on the go.
If your concern is blood pressure or hypertension, there’s a new, FDA-approved, wearable smart device that syncs with your smartphone to provide a straightforward, easy-to-read chart of all your blood pressure measurements over time.
Billed as a “tech-infused” blood pressure cuff, this monitor has a sleek design and is easy to use. The concept is simple. You simply slip on the cuff then activate the wireless bp monitor. This automatically launches the Health Mate app in your iPhone or Android smartphone. At that point you can take your blood pressure.
The app provides color-coded responses, which are shareable with your caretakers and physician. To boost efficacy, this product was designed to track your blood pressure over time, exactly the way your physician prefers.
For more information or to see the product in action, click here.
4. LifeSource Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
What is it for? To monitor your blood pressure.
We list this one as a close second in the world of automatic, wearable blood pressure monitoring. If you’d prefer a device that doesn’t require a smartphone app, this one is for you. This cuff is lightweight and very affordable. It’s designed for quick, comfortable daily blood pressure readings taken from the wrist. It features a large LCD for easy reading, a 60 reading memory storage capacity with the date and time stamp, and an irregular heart rhythm indicator.
If you’re looking for simple but smart, shuffle on over here for a price check.
5. Zacurate Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor
What is it for? To track overnight and continuos blood oxygen saturation leveland heart rate.
The Zacurate Fingertip Pulse Oximeter Blood Oxygen Saturation Monitor accurately determine your SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels), pulse rate and pulse strength in 10 seconds and display it conveniently on a large digital LED display.
The devide is the only led pulse oximeter that can read and display up to 100% for SpO2.
You can find more details about this product here.
6. Wellue O2Ring Wearable Sleep Monitor
What is it for? To provide you graphics of your sleep report, measure Sp-O2 level and heart rate.
The Wellue O2Ring Wearable Sleep Monitor is the lightest, smallest ring sensor for overnight continuous monitoring, very comfortable to use, durable and adapt to most fingers.
The Wellue O2Ring Wearable Sleep Monitor provides graphic sleep report and trends of health data, reviewing real-time data in APP dashboard. The device will let you know if the Sp-O2 level is lower than the preset threshold and heart rate is lower or higher than the preset threshold. This can be a valuable info to help you develop a healthy lifestyle.
The built-in memory can store 4 groups of 10 hours of data on device. The device runs automatically when you wear it, up to 16 hours for a full charge.
You can find more details about this product here.
7. The Upraght Go Posture Trainer
What is it for? To correct your posture.
Do you struggle with poor posture and weak core muscle strength? Training those core muscles to be stronger is one of the most helpful things we can do for ourselves to maintain an active and pain-free lifestyle. To help you learn more about your own posture trends, we’ve found a fun, wearable health gadget that is both affordable and a tad bit Pavlovian.
Compatible with your iPhone and is worn on your back between your shoulders. In the spirit of Pavlov, it can be programmed to send a “zap” to the user any time slouching occurs as a reminder to straighten posture and engage the core muscles. However, if you find the zapper a little too surprising, you can turn it off and program the device to passively record your posture instead.
Recommended by chiropractors and physical therapists, this gadget comes with a training program that can be customized around your personal rehabilitative needs. It also provides constant feedback about your posture through the mobile app. For example, if you wear it for 6 consecutive hours, it will break down the amount of time you spent slouching versus sitting upright properly. This device is very affordable and also comes with a 30-day risk-free trial.
For a demo of the product in action, click here.
8. OTC HealthmateForever YK15AB TENS Electronic Pulse Massager for Electrotherapy Pain Management
What is it for? Pain Relief Therapy. Chosen by Sufferers of Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Arthritis, Bursitis, Tendonitis, Plantar Fasciitis, Sciatica, Back Pain, Fibromyalgia, Shin Splints, Neuropathy and other Inflammation Ailments.
With the FDA cleared OTC HealthmateForever YK15AB TENS all you have to do is to choose the button for the pain you have and let it do the rest. The device features 15 modes, easy to select the right button to help pain relief, belt clip makes it portable. High Intensity – 4 outputs can output the same 20 levels of intensity, no matter you use 1 output or 4 outputs at the same time without dividing the strength by 8 pads. Moreover, it features 9 Auto Stimulation Programs, Fully-adjustable Speed & Intensity, 6 Selectable Massage Settings, High-Frequency Pulses to Provide Pain Relief.
* If you have one of the following conditions, please consult with your physician before purchasing or using this device. Any acute disease; tumor; infectious disease; pregnant; heart disease; high fever; abnormal blood pressure; lack of skin sensation or an abnormal skin condition; any condition requiring the active supervision of a physician. Caution should be used: following recent surgical procedures when muscle contraction may disrupt the healing process.
You can find more details about this product here.
9. Atmotube
What is it for? To track the air quality in real-time, constantly monitoring the environment around you, accurately measuring a wide range of Volatile Organic compounds (VOCs) like acetone, methanol, formaldehyde and harmful gases.
For individuals who suffer from conditions like COPD and asthma, this wearable device monitors the air quality in the surrounding environment. Designed to clip onto a belt or backpack, the Atmotube comes in two different models; Atmotube Plus and Atmotube Pro.
Both models measure air pollution caused by toxic gases and volatile organic compounds. If the air around you is not safe, the device will alert you immediately. They both also measure temperature, barometric pressure, and humidity for those who are sensitive to weather changes. Atmotube Pro is designed with the home environment in mind, as it alerts the user to pollutants like pollen, soot, dust and mold in addition to all of the pollutants detected by Atmotube Pro. Considering its usefulness for those who suffer from breathing trouble, the Atmotube is competitively priced starting at $99.
For more information, or to watch a demo of the product in action, click here.
10. GPS SmartSole Wearable Shoe Tracker
What is it for? To track someone who can easily get lost.
Alzheimers and dementia are two of the most debilitating conditions for seniors. In addition to stealing memories and independence, the conditions often cause aimless wandering. There is nothing more frightening than not being able to locate your loved one, especially when their ability to care for themselves is compromised by their disease.
The SmartSole shoe tracker was designed to keep track of individuals who struggle with memory impairment, traumatic brain injuries, or anyone else with a disability who requires monitoring. With a battery life of 18 to 48 hours, the soles simply slip into the shoe with the GPS tracker residing in the right shoe only. Should you need to use the device, it comes with a free tracking app and SMS text alerts with a purchased service plan.
You can find more details about this product here.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, there is a new tech market out there that provides a solution to most every health ailment you might have. We try to choose simple, helpful products that provide the most benefit to users in terms of service and price. Keeping individuals safe and independen living in their own homes is our goal, and we enjoy researching and offering products to you that support a healthy and rewarding lifestyle.
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