AARP The Magazine did an article on medical wearables which is a perfect gift for anyone you know over 50. There’s so much new technology being developed to monitor senior health and possibly save lives that they are worth considering. I’ve gathered a list of some that I consider to be the best.
Monitor your heart, circulation & blood pressure
SonoHealth makes an ECG Portable Heart Rate Monitor that is state of the art. It works autonomously without a smartphone connection and has a colorful display. It captures 30-second ECG and heart rate readings and it’s compact so you can take it anywhere.
You can take recordings from different areas such as hand-to-hand, hand-to-chest, and hand-to-leg. Do not use it if you have a Pacemaker or other ICD.
The AliveCor Kardia-Mobile device can check your EKG and is so small it will fit in your pocket. If you feel your heart fluttering all you do is check your monitor. It could save you from having a heart attack. It captures your heartbeat and detects rhythm abnormalities and symptoms of AFib.
Another similar device is the Apple Watch Series. This is an all-in-one health monitor that, in addition to being a very cool watch and alarm system will track your fitness activity, heart rate, & EKG. It will also send out an emergency call if you fall.
What I love about the Omron Healthcare Evolv® Blood Pressure Monitor is that you strap it on your arm and press a button to get your blood pressure. There are no tubes that get tangled up. It syncs with the Omron app on your smartphone. I use mine all the time to make sure I’m in the normal range. So far, so good!
Relieve aches and pains
If you have aches and pains, you can find relief with the Max Power Relief® TENS Unit by Omron. It uses microcurrent TENS therapy. Simply attach it to your area of pain. Its features include:
- Powerful & 15 levels of intensity.
- Smart-phone sized unity with belt clip for portability.
- Easy-to-read screen with large buttons allows for simple operation.
- 6 Pain modes: shoulder, lower back, arm, foot, leg, joint.
- 3 Massage-like modes: rub, tap, knead.
- 100 percent drug-free, safe, and effective for home use.
- Includes standard-sized Long-Life Pads.
Do you think your posture is causing you to have aches and pains?
The Upright Go Posture Trainer is a small device you stick to your upper back. It emits a subtle buzz whenever you hunch over to remind you to stand up straight. Poor posture can significantly affect your health and can cause you to feel older than you are. So many of us spend too much time hunched over our computer or cell phone and our posture takes a toll.
Control your stress level
Stress is a major cause of illness and other medical conditions especially if you are over 50. The Spire Health Tag is a small device that you can attach to your panties or pajamas. It monitors your breathing and heart rate as you sleep. It then sends the data to a smartphone app and gives you recommendations to improve your health.
It may suggest something like breathing exercises. It also tells you what daily activities may be contributing to your stress level. It comes with eight tags that are machine washable so you don’t have to attach and reattach them.
This post was updated on 5/2024.
What medical wearables do you like to use? Please leave a comment below.
These are amazing! It’s funny. I’ve been worried about my posture. Now there’s help!
That’s great! I hope the posture device helps you, Diane!
I haven’t worn any-yet! But with a family member with aFib and others prone to falling, and my back pain, am interested.
I can understand that, Alana and having AFib is serious so monitoring is important
Terrific Review. These are all great. 30 years ago who would have thought it! I would love the Apple watch with all the bells and whistles.
The Apple watch is pretty cool! That’s for sure, Haralee. It does so many things.
I could use the posture thing and my husband too!!
Posture is so important, Beth, especially as we age and we are hunched over so much on computers and looking at our cell phones. It’s good to have a reminder.