New ways to monitor your health at home

With a smartphone, it’s easy to keep track of your relatives’ lives, the weather, the news, and your email. 

Now, you can go ahead and add your overall health to that list of items.

From blood pressure to blood sugar, many of these apps and portable electronic devices can help you keep an eye on important vital signs and metrics. In some instances, this data can be sent directly to your doctor.

But are they right for you? Here are a few self-monitoring advancements to discuss with your doctor. 

Blood Pressure 

The Omron HeartGuide watch allows wearers to share blood pressure readings with their doctor in real time, using the OMRON Connect US/CAN/EMEA app. Like arm cuffs and larger wrist-worn devices, it works by inflating intermittently, using the same tech in Omron’s hospital-grade monitors. 

Blood Sugar 

There are now blood sugar monitors that don't require a blood sample. One prime example: Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 Glucose Monitoring system. The wearer places a sensor patch on the upper arm, and whenever a self-check is needed, he or she waves a small handheld scanner over the patch. The scanner records the blood sugar level, calculates trends over the last 8 hours, and predicts whether sugars will rise or fall in the near future. Another option is the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitor, where the sensor goes on the abdomen. 

Body Composition 

The Skulpt Scanner is a smartphone-sized device that works with the Skulpt app to measure, track, and analyze body fat percentage and muscle quality. As a bonus, users can plug in personal goals and receive workout advice, including guidance from a panel of trainers. In one study published in Geriatrics, the older adults who used the device needed very little training before they were able to conduct self-checks––with reliable results. 

Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)

Researchers from Stanford, in an Apple Heart Study of more than 400,000 people, found that the Apple Watch and iPhone can help detect atrial fibrillation (or A-Fib), which can increase the risk of heart failure or stroke. (Samsung Galaxy Watches are now FDA-approved to do this as well.) When the watch alerted the wearer of an irregular pulse, 84 percent of the time he or she was found to be in A-Fib. Since this a condition that often shows no symptoms—and comes and goes—constant monitoring is important. 

On the Horizon: High-tech Toilet Seats? 

The Rochester Institute of Technology recently developed a toilet seat that can monitor heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygenation levels, weight, and other metrics. This device is now going through the FDA clearance process. It is hoped it will prevent readmissions for patients who were hospitalized due to heart failure. 

The bottom line: To ensure you’re getting a safe, reliable, and effective product, seek guidance from a reputable medical professional or resource. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a searchable database of products such as medical devices. You can also ask for suggestions from your doctor, pharmacist, or another person on your health care team, such as a diabetes educator. These experts can also help you learn to use the device properly, tell you what results to look for, and explain what to do about the numbers on the readout.