HEALTH SPECIAL.......... Technology and your wellbeing

 Technology and your wellbeing

As humankind has progressed, it has come up with tools and technology to make work easier. The field of health has greatly benefitted from this. Technology helps your health practitioner do his job more effeciently and be in places he or she can’t.

Here are some ways tech’s making healthcare easy.

Diagnostics: Blood tests, X-rays, ultrasound machines, ECG machines, bone density machines, eye testing machines and so on, help doctors make diagnoses.

Surgeries: From lasers to robotic surgeries, a modern operation theatre has helpful specialised equipment.

Implants: During a heart surgery, a stent is inserted in the heart to keep the artery unblocked. During a multiple fracture surgery, clips and rods are attached to bones. An artificial lens helps the eye see. 

Distance diagnosis: In remote areas that have no infrastructure, villagers can phone health centres for diagnosis. A basic-level healthcare worker can use simple devices to check a patient’s blood pressure, ECG, photos of a skin disease, blood sugar reading, X-rays and ultrasounds, and then send the reports via mobile phone to a specialised hospital where it is analysed by senior doctors.

And thanks to our smartphones, we have access to all sorts of helpful health-related apps like these:

HealthtapGreat when you need answers from real doctors. A community of 50,000 doctors answer queries. The app also offers free health tips.

Lumosity
A free app designed by neurologists to make your mind sharper! Scientifically designed games are aimed at working your grey cells.

KidsDocIf your child is unwell and you can’t reach a doctor, this app helps decode what your child’s symptoms indicate. It was built using the data gathered from more than 10,000 doctors and nurses

Whole foods marketThousands of recipes from all over the world, including those for special diets. 

SympleTrack your symptoms, and share them with your doctor so your visit is simpler and diagnosis, easier.

Drugs.comPrescription confusion? This app has more information.

Shikha Sharma, HTBR 140717