THE BRAVE NEW WORLD OF "BODY HACKING"
The field of medical monitoring technology has come a long way. With baby boomers aging, and chronic health problems such as obesity and diabetes on the rise, traditional health services are becoming unsustainable. Digital health services are therefore a necessary part of the solution. The term "body hacking" refers to tapping into the data your body produces immediately, in real time. Tracking dietary intake, physical activity, and the changes in your body resulting from each, for instance, can lead to changes in behavior which then result in better health.
That is the goal. The concerns are that with some 43,000 mHealth apps available on iTunes as of mid-2013, only 16,275 of them were directly related to health and treatment, and the Food and Drug Administration has cleared only approximately 100 of them. In addition, privacy concerns have been raised about apps that may collect personal health information insecurely.
Some of the apps cleared by the FDA include those to remotely track blood pressure and heart rhythm. Phone-based ultra-sounds, electrocardiographs and glucose monitoring have also been useful to help doctors monitor and treat patients outside the office setting. The ability to track constant data can help to prevent life-threatening events such as strokes and heart attacks. Disease prevention is one of the best uses of health apps.
Some apps provide self-diagnostic tools; these apps run the risk of patients eliminating rather than enhancing the role of the doctor in the process. The danger posed by these kinds of apps is one of the reasons some advocate for regulation over this growing industry.
DOPPLER WEATHER GETS AN UPDATE
Watching the weather channel just won't be the same. An app called Sickweather tracks outbreaks of certain illnesses like colds, flu, whooping cough, norovirus, etc., on a map. Using reports of illnesses on social media, the news and other sources, the illnesses are tracked by Doppler radar on maps, near one's location and/or around the country. Depending on the accuracy of the information, this app could be used by schools and organizations in the path of an outbreak to limit its impact. The app could also be used on a personal basis to influence travel plans and to make decisions regarding precautions during an outbreak in one's own area.
HEALTH APPS MEET WEARABLES
When Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, announced the revolutionary Apple Watch, wearable technology suddenly became a whole lot more...well, wearable. Compatible with all iOS8 devices, the Apple Watch is the perfect platform for combining health apps and fitness technology. The watch comes with fitness and health sensors, and nutrition apps are incorporated into it. "Health" is an app available on the watch.
CONTACT YOUR ATTORNEY
If you would like more information on medical monitoring technology, or if you have concerns about particular health apps, contact your Atlanta personal injury attorneys at the Thomas Law Firm.