bringing about a change in diagnosis and treatment, as well as patient monitoring.
These devices help collect and analyze real-time personal data that informs users on
everything, from health to workouts.
The demand for wearable technology has more than tripled in the last few years.
According to Business Insider Intelligence, more than 80% of consumers are willing to
wear fitness technology. Due to this increasing demand, healthcare software development companies are focusing more on creating innovative wearable devices that
promote healthier lifestyles. Wearables have also made the IoT industry the
nearly-trillion-dollar behemoth it is today.
Apple Watch and Fitbit are classic examples of wearable technology, but these aren’t the
only devices developed today. In addition to smartwatches, AR and VR technology,
smart jackets, and other gadgets are also leading us towards a better-connected lifestyle.
It’s a booming industry and is expected to reach USD 265.4 billion by 2026.
Moving further, let’s discuss a few benefits of wearable technology in the healthcare
industry.
Why wearable technology is so powerful
conveniences like contactless payment options. These benefits are the sole reason why
wearable technology is gaining so much popularity and becoming the future of the
healthcare industry.
● Continuous monitoring: Wearable technology helps you to keep tabs on your
health. Devices with built-in heart, oxygen, and respiration monitors make it easy
to keep track of your health and how you’re doing day-to-day. They can also keep
track of weight, blood pressure, sleeping patterns, and more. With such
continuous monitoring, you and your healthcare professional can get a much
bigger picture than what is visible in the clinic.
● Engagement: Having the ability to monitor your actions and what effects they
have on you physically allows you to engage in your own health management in
ways never before possible. Wearable devices like fitness trackers give instant
access to the information you can use to make day-to-day decisions about your
health and lifestyle.
● Saves lives: One of the most crucial benefits of wearable technology is that it
saves lives. For instance, nowadays elderly patients wear heart monitors that
alert caregivers and family when something is wrong. Certain devices can even
alert caregivers when the person falls. Thus, the advent of such devices not only
helps to monitor health but also saves lives by alerting family members or
caregivers on time.
● Alerts/predictions: Nowadays, wearable devices have the ability to send an
alert regarding possible health threats. Let’s say if your heart rate is irregular or
out of its normal rhythm, you’ll receive an alert. Some devices can even predict
potential illnesses (like the flu) and notify you so that you can seek medical care.
● Benefits healthcare professionals: Wearable technology offers several
benefits to healthcare professionals. Doctors can better understand the issues
that are affecting the patient by using wearable devices to monitor patients’ data.
They can use this data for more accurate diagnosis and speed up the treatment
procedures.
● Motivation booster: These devices give the motivation to stay fit by providing
you with visual progress. They will show you how long you’ve been active, how
easy to track your progress and see where you stand currently in your fitness
journey. The best part of using such devices is that all of the information is easily
accessible and stored for you.
● Reduces injury: Wearable technology has the ability to monitor stress loads
and fatigue when you are overtraining in the gym. With this data, you will know
when to stop and, in turn, reduce the chance of injury.
Examples of wearable technology in healthcare
medical industry is getting influenced to develop more wearable devices such as
wearable monitors and smartwatches. As reported by Mobile App Daily, by 2022, the
number of connected wearable devices is expected to jump to over 1.1 billion globally.
Here are a few examples of wearable technology that are revolutionizing the healthcare
industry.
1. Wearable fitness trackers: Wearable fitness trackers are wristbands embedded with sensors that allow users to track physical activity and monitor their health. For instance, smartwatches like Fitbit and Apple help users track everything from heart rates to their daily steps.
2. Wearable ECG monitor: Wearable ECG monitors have the ability to measure electrocardiograms or ECGs as well as detect atrial fibrillation. These readings are then sent to the user’s doctor. These devices also record patients’ walking, running, distance, track pace, and elevation.
3. Wearable blood pressure monitors: Blood pressure monitors are also used by healthcare professionals to track patients’ health conditions. These devices can measure blood pressure and daily activity like steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned.
4. Biosensors: Biosensors collect data on patients’ movement, heart rate, respiratory
rate, and temperature. One of the most talked-about Biosensors is Phillips’ self-adhesive
patch that enables real-time data monitoring on patients. The device has enabled 89% of patient management to prevent respiratory or cardiac arrest.
The future of wearable devices
The wearable healthcare technology market is surging. According to Business Insider
Intelligence, the number of fitness trackers and health-based wearables in the US is
expected to surpass 120 million by 2023. These stats prove that the future of healthcare
with wearable devices is bright.
insurers, health providers, and companies as they would want to take advantage of the
benefits of wearable health monitoring devices.
These devices also reduce the cost for users by reducing healthcare visits and
readmissions, enabling healthcare to reach even the remotest areas. So, if you plan to
invest in wearable technology, it’s advisable to contact an app development company.
The experts will guide you through the process and help bring your app to life.
