Best wearable devices for at-home health monitoring
By Amanda Jowsey
Start taking your health into your own hands-- or wrist, or head, or feet, or eventually every other part of the body imaginable. Wearable health technology is just one way we are beginning to monitor our own health so that we can live happier and more energized lives.
These devices help us keep track of the habits that may be holding us back, give us tips on how to improve them and come with the carryover benefits of increased productivity and increased self-esteem.
Here is a roundup of the 3 most popular, most affordable, and most user-friendly health trackers available.
1. Apple Watch Series 8
This is the most comprehensive wearable device currently available when it comes to overall health. It covers sleep, menstrual cycles, blood pressure, emergency situations and more.
It can act as a sleep tracker, recording time spent in different sleep stages. These stages are key to understanding and getting better sleep. It can help to keep a sleep diary as well, which is one of the first steps to practicing healthy sleeping habits.
A new temperature sensor records your temperature while users sleep, so users can see patterns over time. “Cycle tracking uses this data to provide a retrospective estimate of when you likely ovulated, which can be helpful for family planning. When combined with your heart rate and logged cycle data, you’ll get a detailed view of your menstrual cycle,” Apple said.
With a blood oxygen monitor and electrocardiogram app, users can also stay on top of their heart health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Additional features include crash and fall detection and other emergency services that give unparalleled peace of mind to users.
*Prices, models and options range from $300-$800
5. Oura Ring
The Oura Ring focuses primarily on sleep health. It is a more discreet and lightweight option than the Apple watch.
Referred to as “a sleep lab on your finger,” this ring tracks your sleep quality and all four sleep stages: Deep sleep (physically restorative stage), REM sleep (mentally restorative stage), light sleep and awake periods. A daily “sleep score” is then provided based on personalized, real-time data points: total sleep, REM sleep, deep sleep, timing, movement, heart rate, heart rate variability and more.
But how do knowing these things lead to better sleep and eventually better health? By learning a person’s unique sleep patterns, the app then shares personalized guidance and reminders on how to get the best sleep every day. It might recommend when to start winding down for bed, or what to avoid during that day, for example. It creates a personalized sleep routine based on what your body is already doing.
It allows you to keep track of daily and nightly activities or food and drinks you’ve had before bed to see how these things may impact you over time. It offers sleep sounds and stories for relaxation before bed and remembers those that may have helped someone fall asleep faster so it can be used again.
Quality sleep boosts immunity, helps with weight management, decreases the risk for heart disease and brain diseases like dementia, helps to manage stress and improves memory and productivity.
*Oura Ring: Starting at $300
3. Fitbits by Google
Help users stay on top of their fitness goals, monitor overall health and even manage stress. They track health metrics like respiration, blood oxygen levels and skin temperature “to uncover trends and changes in your daily well-being,” Google said.
They can help detect and indicate illness or hormone fluctuations, stress and fatigue. They provide a daily readiness score based on activity, sleep and heart rate, and will base exercise recommendations on a person’s daily readiness so that they can work with their body rather than against it.
Studies show that devices like Fitbit do motivate individuals to exercise more frequently and improve overall health. The American Medical Association said adults who take 8,000 or more steps each day have a lower risk of death from numerous diseases than those who take fewer than 4,000. The average American takes 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day.
*Prices, models and options range from $70-$300
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