How tech gadgets can improve your health
Although we haven’t yet located the Fountain of Youth, we do have more ways to scientifically monitor our health than ever before. Health and fitness gadgets are flying off the shelves—but how exactly do they work?
When it comes to looking after your health, you can’t beat the old fashion method of eating a nutritious diet and exercising regularly. However, certain gadgets make it easier to motivate yourself and measure your progress. There are also high tech tools designed to help you improve your sleep habits, dental health and even your mental wellbeing.
Today’s tech gadgets can:
Encourage better posture
Always slouching? Straighten up with the Lumo Lift, named one of 2014’s top 25 inventions by Time Magazine. The small wearable gadget coaches you on your posture. When it detects that you’re slouching, it vibrates to encourage you to sit and stand tall. It also tracks your posture so that you can map your improvement over time.
Get you moving
If exercise is what you need, there are a multitude of gadgets on the market to help you work up a sweat. The Fitbit range of wearable activity trackers (most look like a futuristic watch) keeps a tally on how many steps you take, the distance you travel and the amount of calories you burn. The gadget syncs wirelessly with your mobile, making it easy to monitor your progress.
Check your blood pressure
Wireless blood pressure monitors like those offered by iHealth and Withings make it easy to keep an eye on your blood pressure. They work just like a standard sphygmomanometer, but they sync to your mobile device, allowing you to store and keep track of your blood pressure readings over time.
Give your teeth a deeper clean
Dental health is easy to overlook, but tooth decay and gum disease can lead to serious health problems if untreated (not to mention the pain and expense that comes with a rotting tooth). Battery-powered, vibrating toothbrushes have been around for a while now, and if you haven’t made the switch, now’s the time.
Most electric toothbrushes come at a fairly reasonable price, but if you’re willing to push the boat out for those pearly whites, go for the Oral-B Pro 6500 Black Smart. The high-tech toothbrush connects to your phone via bluetooth and acts as your ‘oral care personal trainer’, tracking your dental health and helping you set brushing goals.
Help you sleep
Proper rest is an essential component of health, yet 25% of us suffer some form of sleep disorder that makes us tired during the day. Fortunately, there are now loads of sleep-aid gadgets designed to help you get your 40 winks. The aforementioned Fitbit also includes sleep-monitoring technology so that you can see how well you’re sleeping at night. Also useful are alarm clocks that wake you with UV light and according to your circadian rhythms.
Reduce anxiety and stress
Just as it’s important to monitor your physical health, a big part of staying healthy is looking after your mental wellbeing. The Hypnocube sits atop your desk and flashes colourful LED lights, which can help you zone out and relax when you’re feeling stressed. Another anxiety-treating gadget is Spire, a wearable device that monitors your breathing patterns and alerts you to calm down when it detects a rise in your stress levels.
Do you use any gadgets to help you stay healthy?
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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