Real Possibilities

February 8-14, 2016

Technology and your health

By Nan Selz
State President AARP Arkansas

Advances in technology have opened up a number of medical options such as videoconferencing, electronic disease monitoring, virtual diagnosis and smartphone apps. AARP’s web site is a great source of information on the subject. Here are some of the new ways to address health care issues that AARP’s web site explores in more depth.

Health Apps

You can download dozens of smartphone apps with a broad range of healthcare claims. Some remind you to take medication, record your vital signs such as blood pressure or blood sugar, or collect information on symptoms like mood changes. Preliminary research indicates that some apps can help ease symptoms for migraines or help manage chronic pain conditions. But not all apps do what they say they do, so it is important to ask your doctor to appraise any apps you want to use for chronic conditions, medication management or diagnosis.

Electronic Medical Portals

Many physicians and clinics are establishing online medical portals where patients can view lab and test results, manage appointments, collect electronic medical records, refill prescriptions, and even communicate with their physicians. There is growing evidence that these portals actually help patients manage care – particularly patients who are dealing with multiple conditions or who are undergoing rounds of treatments and tests. Since test results can be confusing to the average patient, however, it is important to communicate clearly with your doctor about your concerns

At-home Disease Monitoring

For patients who must manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma and congestive heart failure at home, there are two technology options. Devices that hook up to your smartphone allow you to measure your blood pressure, heart rate or blood-sugar levels at any time. There are also automated text message-based programs that send alerts to your phone reminding you to take medication, to exercise for 30 minutes or to check your blood sugar.
Both methods help patients control their disease better than trying to do it alone. And at-home monitoring saves the expense of additional doctor and ER visits. These devices are expensive and are usually not covered by health insurance.

Fitness Devices

These wristband devices can count your steps, monitor your sleep patterns and allow you to log your food intake and workouts. But the devices cannot change your habits. Research shows that after six months, a third of users stowed the devices in a drawer. Also, they may not measure your calorie requirements accurately. A newer use has been to integrate their use into post-injury rehab programs, alerting patients to do physical therapy exercises and adhere to goals.

For more information about technology and your health, go to www.aarp.org  

 

  • Nan Selz
    Nan Selz