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Growth of Wearable Technology in Healthcare

July 4, 2022 - Parul Saini, Webmedy Team

Updated Version - July 22, 2023


The healthcare and wellness industry is shifting toward regulated, personalized, and monitored healthcare. In a short period, mobile devices have skyrocketed in use. With these advancements, wearable devices such as - well-being tools, health monitors, fitness devices, and disease prevention devices are becoming more vital in the healthcare field.

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Today, artificial intelligence, robots, sensors, big data, radar technologies, IoT, and digital wearables can manage and prevent diseases. They can estimate blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate, and respiration and indicate risks such as declining health, worsening sickness, and other threatening situations like - increased blood pressure or breathing problems.

What is Wearable Technology?

First, let's understand the meaning of wearable technology. As the name implies, wearable technology includes the gadgets and devices we can wear as accessories, or a few times, as implants. These devices can take different forms, including jewelry, accessories, medical devices, watches, earbuds, bands, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology, t-shirts, smart jackets, etc. These devices can even send users' health details to a healthcare professional in real-time.

How is Wearable Technology used in Healthcare Nowadays?

  • Tracking Health Status

    With a health monitoring device, doctors can track and measure their patient's vitals in real-time such as heart rate, ECG, blood pressure, body temperature, etc.; the gadgets can transmit the necessary patients' data to the doctors for further examination.

  • Therapeutic Treatment

    Patients with chronic diseases can get timely treatment once their metrics exceed the level, e.g. getting automated insulin pumps or medications. Moreover, with these devices, doctors can better adjust the patients' therapy by monitoring their patients' conditions.

  • Health and Activity Tracking

    Apart from doctors monitoring their patients' states, wearable gadget users can track their health status and follow a healthy lifestyle. This includes sleep pattern tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen concentration or SpO2 monitoring, calorie tracking, steps, swimming tracking, etc. In case of any irregularities, they can seek consultation from a qualified doctor to take preventative action against any disease development.

  • Other Uses

    Wearables can also help in the diagnosis, screening, and monitoring of psychological disorders like depression. It also improves patient management efficiency in hospitals. In addition, wireless transmission in wearable systems allows researchers to develop new types of point-of-care diagnostic tools.

Top 5 Wearable Devices in Healthcare

  • Wearable Fitness Trackers

    Some of the simplest and most original forms of wearable technology, wearable fitness trackers, are devices equipped with sensors to keep track of physical activity, heart rate, oxygen level, blood pressure, etc. These provide wearers with health and fitness guidance by syncing to various smartphone apps. Wearers can get a good idea of how healthy they are. Few wearable fitness monitors support the setting of daily fitness goals and show the progress made on those goals.

  • Smart Health Watches

    Smartwatches allow users to perform tasks they normally do on their phones - read notifications, send simple messages, and make phone calls, while also offering some of the exercise and health-tracking benefits of fitness trackers. A smartwatch sends you a notification that you need to do more exercises, or it can alarm you if you're exerting too much effort. Having a smartwatch that can effectively monitor your heart rate is a great way to avoid injuring yourself.

  • Wearable ECG Monitors

    Wearable ECG monitors are on the cutting edge of consumer electronics, and what sets these monitors apart from some smartwatches, is their ability to measure electrocardiograms or ECGs. Some personal-use ECG devices have built-in screens so you can see your heart rhythm on the monitor. Other devices connect to a smartphone or computer application where you can record, view, store, and share your ECG readings.

  • Wearable Blood Pressure Monitors

    Wearable blood pressure monitors are devices that you wear and that can easily and quickly measure the levels of your blood pressure. We are all used to those traditional devices that you can use now and then remove from your hand until you decide to use them once again, but things are changing in this industry, and people are coming up with all kinds of possible solutions. Well, this particular product is one of those possible and better solutions, since you have the opportunity to check your blood pressure wherever you are and without any trouble. All you need to do is have a device on your wrist that can do the measurement for you.

  • Wearable biosensors

    Wearable biosensors are portable electronic devices that enable real-time monitoring and feedback to the user on various biological and physiological indicators. They can provide real-time measurements of various biological parameters, including blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, and activity levels. They create two-way feedback between the user and their doctor and enable continuous and noninvasive disease diagnosis and health monitoring from physical motion and biofluids.

What are some Popular Wearable Health Apps?

Users of wearable devices can browse their newfound data through a health app. Here are some popular Health Apps:

  • Google Fit

    Google Fit focuses on two critical metrics: general activity and heart rate to improve a user's overall health. It also focuses on the users' move minutes to foster more movement and less relaxation in one place throughout the day. Google Fit's interface and actionable coaching tips help you see how better you need to accomplish your everyday goals. For tracking your eating habits, you can add your nutrition data manually.

  • Apple Health App

    With an Apple Watch or an iPhone, an Apple Health app is available to install automatically. Apple Health automatically measures walking, running distance, and steps and uses the wearer's body measurements to calculate the number of calories they are burning. You can add additional activities like cycling distance, pushes, exercise minutes, resting energy, etc., for tracking in your favorites list. When connected with a fitness tracker or a smartwatch, it records sleep cycle and heart rate.

  • Samsung Health

    Samsung Health is a goal-oriented and interactive fitness app. It motivates you with its gaming techniques. For example, you can compete with friends or even be a part of a global challenge to get badges for your accomplishments. Providing detailed graphs for each day demonstrates the progress of your nutrition, sleep, stress levels, heart rate, and body activity.

Integration of Data from Wearable Devices with EHR (Electronic Health Records)

Several patients are increasingly using wearable devices to help them collect essential data and better manage their health. The collection of that data is not enough. The transmission of data to a health care provider's EHR is critical if the information is effectively incorporated into the patient care management process. Healthcare providers should establish a connection between their EHRs and patients' wearable devices to record their health progress. The interface between EHR and wearables is beneficial for both; patients with ongoing primary care and chronic care.

Future of Wearables in Healthcare

Using wearable devices for everyday needs is becoming an overall trend worldwide. According to a study, there will be a significant transformation in the future of wearable wellness and connected devices landscape over the next five years.

Here are some key points:

  • Implantable medical devices are one of the major growth areas for wearable healthcare devices.
  • Opportunities for advanced data analytics will grow significantly.
  • Concern about privacy and data security will grow, leading to the growth of opportunities for improvement in this area.
  • Healthcare institutions will see a significant increase in efficiency from remote data collection.
  • With the Internet of Things and Wearable devices, healthcare can become more context-based and automatic.

In the future, increased wellness digital usage will provide users with a wealth of information and choices, making them far more equipped and empowered to track and monitor their health, and to some extent, even self-diagnose.

Summary

The demand for fitness trackers and smartwatches has been growing for quite some time now. Therefore, healthcare isn't limited to just these gadgets. Companies are constantly experimenting and looking for new solutions. Physiological monitors, such as blood pressure monitoring and biosensors, are good examples.

Growing end-user interest is fueling the growth and progress of the healthcare wearable gadgets market. Soon, we will see new and improved wearables being introduced by healthcare tech companies.

Helpful Information

What is the role of wearable technology in healthcare?

Wearable technology plays a significant role in healthcare by enabling continuous monitoring of vital signs, physical activity, and other health indicators. They can help in early disease detection, encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and improve the management of chronic conditions.

How can wearable technology help in managing chronic diseases?

Wearable devices can continuously monitor vital signs and other health parameters, enabling individuals with chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease to keep track of their health status and adjust their lifestyle or medication accordingly.

What are some common examples of wearable technology in healthcare?

Examples of wearable technology in healthcare include fitness trackers, heart rate monitors, glucose monitors, wearable ECG monitors, sleep trackers, smartwatches with health features, and even smart clothing.

Can wearable technology enhance patient care?

Yes, wearable technology can enhance patient care by providing real-time data to healthcare providers, enabling personalized and timely treatment. It also allows patients to participate actively in their healthcare, leading to better outcomes.

How can wearable technology help in early disease detection?

Wearable devices can track vital signs and other health parameters continuously, detecting abnormal changes that might indicate the onset of a disease. Early detection often leads to more effective treatment and better health outcomes.

Can wearable technology assist in elderly care?

Wearable technology can significantly contribute to elderly care by monitoring vital signs, tracking location, and sending alerts for falls or other emergencies. It helps in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of seniors, whether they live independently or in care facilities.

How does wearable technology contribute to preventive healthcare?

Wearable technology can motivate individuals to lead healthier lifestyles by tracking physical activity, sleep patterns, calorie intake, and more. This information can help individuals make changes to their lifestyle, leading to better health and potentially preventing diseases.

Can wearable technology help in mental health monitoring?

Certain wearable devices can monitor physiological indicators linked to stress, anxiety, and depression, such as heart rate variability. This data can help healthcare providers understand a patient's mental health status and adjust treatment accordingly.

Does wearable technology have a role in telemedicine?

Wearable technology plays a significant role in telemedicine by providing healthcare providers with real-time data about a patient's health status. This allows for remote patient monitoring, timely interventions, and personalized care, even from a distance.

What are the benefits of wearable technology for healthcare providers?

For healthcare providers, wearable technology can provide continuous and accurate patient data, enabling personalized and proactive care. It can also save time, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient engagement.

Can wearable technology improve medication adherence?

Certain wearable devices can send reminders to patients to take their medications, improving adherence. They can also monitor the effects of the medication and alert healthcare providers if adjustments are needed.

How does wearable technology support fitness and wellness?

Wearable technology supports fitness and wellness by tracking various health metrics like heart rate, steps taken, calories burned, sleep patterns, and more. This data can motivate individuals to lead healthier lifestyles.

What are the challenges of using wearable technology in healthcare?

Challenges of using wearable technology in healthcare include ensuring data privacy and security, addressing technical issues such as battery life and data accuracy, and overcoming barriers to user adoption such as comfort, style, and ease of use.

Can wearable technology reduce hospital readmissions?

By enabling remote patient monitoring and early detection of health issues, wearable technology can potentially reduce hospital readmissions. It allows healthcare providers to intervene promptly when a patient's condition deteriorates, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits.

How does wearable technology contribute to personalized medicine?

Wearable technology contributes to personalized medicine by providing detailed and continuous health data for each individual. This enables healthcare providers to customize treatments based on the patient's unique health status and lifestyle.

How can wearable technology assist in health research?

Wearable technology can provide valuable data for health research by tracking health metrics in real-world settings over extended periods. This can lead to better understanding of diseases, more effective treatments, and improved health policies.

Can wearable technology help in sleep monitoring?

Yes, many wearable devices can monitor sleep patterns, including sleep duration, sleep stages, and interruptions. This data can help identify sleep issues and improve sleep hygiene.

Can wearable technology improve health outcomes?

By enabling continuous health monitoring, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices, and facilitating timely interventions, wearable technology can improve health outcomes for a wide range of conditions.

How secure is the health data collected by wearable technology?

Health data collected by wearable technology is usually encrypted and stored securely. However, like any digital data, it could potentially be accessed by unauthorized individuals if the device or the data storage system is not sufficiently protected.

How can wearable technology support emergency medical care?

Wearable devices can support emergency medical care by sending alerts when they detect severe health issues, like a heart attack. Some devices can even contact emergency services directly, providing critical information such as the individual's location and health status.

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