People have become more health conscious today, to improve their quality of life. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), some top 10 causes of death in 2019 were:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Stroke
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic lower respiratory diseases
Since heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases, are some top causes of death, it is very helpful to get people to check their health status regularly. Monitoring your blood pressure, blood glucose and other statistics can help with prevention, reduce suffering and medical costs.
Here is a list of tips for monitoring your health on a regular basis:
1. Personal health record — This tool (or PHR) gives a person easy access to their health history and current biostatistics, i.e., blood pressure, screenings, and medications. It is usually an online record that also states procedures, immunizations, and allergies. Patients can ensure the accuracy of their medical history, making sure their records are up to date.
2. Tracking weight and diet — According to a study, 60% of Americans monitor their weight, diet, and exercise. Some people use a pedometer, which tracks steps in order to lose weight. Some people monitor their calorie intake, miles cycled, or floors climbed. In that same study, 33% of people track their health symptoms, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and sleep patterns.
3. Set realistic goals — When tracking your health status, it is important to set goals that you can achieve in small steps. These small steps show gradual progress in your goals. When you begin with realistic goals, you are creating long-term healthy habits that will improve your health.
4. Use of sensors — If someone is living with asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, a doctor could use a sensor to track a patient’s risk by monitoring their vital signs. Monitoring their vital signs can see what actions need to be taken to prevent any serious medical conditions.
5. Remote Healthcare Monitoring — This data tracking system collects data for health professionals to track patients with acute or chronic conditions on a regular basis. This is a software, where clients use apps to check vitals, including blood pressure and blood glucose. Health professionals can integrate this system into their current system. This remote healthcare monitoring tool can close the gap between office visits with a doctor. This helps patients to take control of their overall health and wellness.
There are so many tools today, including apps, pedometers, and sensors to track one’s health status. Whether you use an app or keep a food journal, it is important that we find ways to make sure we are healthy, prevent serious health conditions, and improve quality of life.