8 mistakes to avoid when buying wearable medical devices

8 mistakes to avoid when buying wearable medical devices

These days, medical technology isn’t limited to a distant machine available only at the doctor’s clinic. Wearable medical devices have redefined monitoring of body parameters, making it incredibly easy to ensure physical well-being right at home or even when traveling. Wearable medical devices have brought general healthcare closer to people and help prevent and diagnose any health issues early. However, buying the right wearable medical devices involves research and avoiding certain mistakes.

1. Not checking battery life
Battery life is an important feature when checking wearable medical devices because it increases their convenience, especially if one travels and cannot charge them repeatedly. Also, if a person uses wearable ECG monitors and other devices, charging them frequently can be difficult. So, one should always ensure that such devices have long battery lives.

2. Overlooking the device’s resilience to different conditions
People often have their wearable devices on themselves for almost an entire day. So, they might even have it on when stepping into the shower or stepping out during rain. Such wearable devices must be resilient to extreme weather conditions, including waterproofing, to avoid such issues. The manufacturers should be transparent about the materials used to manufacture the product and specify that the device is water and weather-resistant.

3. Not paying attention to design and size
Wearable medical devices should balance being small enough to be worn easily and large enough to provide clear readings. As a result, manufacturing a wearable medical device is a work of expertise. The designs of these devices should be tactfully done to meet size requirements. It helps to try on these devices to gauge comfort level and detect size constraints before buying the product.

4. Overlooking the company’s expertise and experience
It is crucial to consider the manufacturing company’s experience and expertise in medical technology and its ability to manufacture wearable medical devices that meet specific user requirements. The company should employ professionals with strong technical expertise in hardware, software, mobile technology, and electronics to integrate these aspects to deliver the best solutions to customers. Also, the company should be reputed in medical technology, with positive reviews from other consumers.

5. Failing to check the device’s connectivity options
Besides excellent connectivity, wearable devices should offer multiple connectivity options, including Wi-Fi, cellular connections, and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Essentially, the data that the device collects should be easily accessible so that one can analyze it actively and present it to a healthcare professional.

6. Not buying a device for a specific health condition
If someone has an existing health condition, purchasing a device that can accurately track the specific parameters related to that condition is important. For instance, patients with high sugar levels would benefit from purchasing a glucose monitor. In contrast, individuals with a history of heart problems or those at a high risk of developing one could benefit from a wearable ECG monitor to measure their heart rate. Therefore, before purchasing a wearable medical device, one must evaluate personal requirements based on consultations with a doctor, medical reports, etc., and choose devices that can accurately measure the associated parameters.

7. Not consulting a doctor before and while using the device
Although wearable medical devices are easily available, avoiding making these decisions alone is best. One should consult a healthcare professional and take all the necessary tests to diagnose any health issue. After this, the doctor should suggest the ideal wearable device to monitor a certain aspect, such as blood sugar levels or heart rate. It is only after this consultation that one should buy a suitable device. Also, even while using the device, one should regularly present the data to one’s doctor and actively take their suggestions and health advice.

8. Not checking the device’s warranty period
It is important to check the warranty period for wearable medical devices, just as for any other equipment or gadget. This ensures that one is financially protected if defects are discovered within a specific timeframe. A warranty period of at least one year is ideal for wearable medical devices. By keeping this in mind, one can make informed decisions when buying and using such devices.

Common wearable medical devices

Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM)
These are small disks worn on the back of one’s upper arm, used to measure glucose levels in the body. The device should be worn continuously to measure blood sugar levels at any given point. It consists of a sensor and is usually placed on the abdomen or upper arm with a transmitter that sends data to a display device, like a phone or a watch.

Wearable blood pressure monitors
These devices detect blood pressure at the wrist and monitor daily fluctuations. This way, one can accurately gauge what factors might be causing these fluxes and make lifestyle changes to control the levels.

Wearable ECG monitors
These devices effectively monitor one’s heart rate and are often very useful in detecting the onset of heart conditions like arrhythmia, heart attack, and atrial fibrillation. Wearable ECG monitors are usually available as patches or watches.

Wearable fitness trackers
From counting the steps one has walked to one’s oxygen levels, fitness trackers can help significantly monitor one’s daily health parameters. Nowadays, most fitness trackers are available as smart watches with multiple advanced functions.

Featured Articles

3 ways to deal with an overactive bladder
health

3 ways to deal with an overactive bladder

People with an overactive bladder (or OAB) experience a sudden and frequent urge to urinate. About 40% of women and 30% of men in the country deal with this condition, which can be caused by weak pelvic muscles, nerve damage, and excessive caffeine consumption. Those affected may have to urinate more often than usual and can even experience leakage. Here are a few treatment options, foods to eat and avoid, and ways to manage OAB: Treatment options Persistent symptoms should be discussed with a doctor so that they can determine the right course of treatment for OAB. Here are popular options that can be considered based on the doctor’s recommendation: Gemtesa:  It is an FDA-approved prescription treatment for adults affected by OAB. It helps relieve urinary symptoms like urgency, frequency, and even incontinence. Gemtesa is an oral treatment, usually taken with water. Common side effects include diarrhea, headache, or nausea. Myrbetriq:  It can help treat bladder issues like neurogenic detrusor overactivity and overactive bladder. This treatment option relaxes the detrusor, a bladder muscle, making it easier for the bladder to accommodate more urine and reduce OAB symptoms. Doctors recommend oral consumption of  Myrbetriq once a day. Adults can have it with or without food, while children must take it with food.
Top tips for managing rheumatoid arthritis
health

Top tips for managing rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that affects one’s joints. In some cases, it can also damage several other body systems like blood vessels, the heart, lungs, eyes, and skin. It is an autoimmune disorder that occurs when your immune system starts mistakenly attacking your body’s tissues. The condition affects the joint’s lining, resulting in painful swelling, which can later cause joint deformity and bone erosion. Here are some treatment measures for rheumatoid arthritis: Treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis Actemra® It is a prescription, FDA-approved biological therapy for relief from rheumatoid arthritis. Actemra ® helps lower the inflammation in the body by directly blocking the action of a protein in your body called interleukin-6 (IL-6). Your doctor may administer it as a subcutaneous or intravenous injection. The former is administered at home or at a medical facility, but the latter is given solely at a medical facility. Plaquenil It is an FDA-approved prescription treatment that helps treat acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis. It helps manage symptoms such as stiffness, inflammation, joint pain, and swelling. It is to be taken exactly as per the recommendation of one’s primary healthcare professional. Rinvoq® Rinvoq ® helps treat moderate to severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis in adults when tumor necrosis factor blockers were used but could not be tolerated or did not work well.
4 practical ways to deal with psoriatic arthritis
health

4 practical ways to deal with psoriatic arthritis

Arthritis commonly affects people with psoriasis, a disease that results in red patches on the skin with silvery scales. Typically, people experience psoriasis years before they get diagnosed with this arthritis. It affects thirty percent of people with psoriasis. However, in some people, joint problems start before psoriasis or during the same time. Swelling, stiffness, and joint pain are the key signs of psoriatic arthritis. Here are the prevalent treatment options for psoriatic arthritis: Treatment options These prescriptions are known to work well against the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis: Otezla Otezla is an oral treatment plan that can be taken with or without food, or as the healthcare professional recommends. You should not chew, split, or crush the tablet before consumption. The recommended dosage depends on your response to treatment and condition. To keep side effects at bay, the doctor may start with a low Otezla dosage and gradually increase it. Rinvoq Rinvoq  should be consumed by mouth with or without food, typically once daily or as the doctor recommends. Do not split, chew, or crush the tablet. It can release the entire dosage in one go and heighten the susceptibility to side effects. To get maximum benefit, you must use Rinvoq regularly. The dosage depends on age and response to the treatment.
How to manage osteoporosis and improve bone health
health

How to manage osteoporosis and improve bone health

Osteoporosis is a condition that makes the bone brittle and weak. When severe, even slight pressure caused by coughing, bending over, or falling can cause a fracture. Such fractures are predominant in the spine, wrist, or hip. Osteoporosis occurs if the new bone fails to keep up with the loss of the old bone. It affects men and women, but post-menopausal women are more susceptible. Let’s discuss the correct osteoporosis treatment and management plan: Treatment plan Prolia It is a prescription treatment plan for relieving osteoporosis in women post-menopause who cannot use other options or have not responded well to prior treatment and are susceptible to fractures. Doctors will prescribe it for at least six months. Prolia helps treat both men and women. However, professionals do not recommend it for pregnant women, women trying to get pregnant anytime soon, or people with low blood calcium. Further, those allergic to denosumab or any other Prolia ingredient must avoid it.   Evenity Evenity helps with osteoporosis in two ways: it slows down bone loss and helps build new bone simultaneously. It is an FDA-approved treatment for osteoporosis that comes as a prefilled, single-use syringe with solution. But Evenity may have severe side effects.

Top Articles