topic Re: How do you assess your health? in Discussions & Feedback

How do you assess your health?

Marjo — Tue, 07 May 2019 09:50:55 GMT

Hi everyone!

As part of our health-related discussions, this time we'd like to talk about how you look after your health, in terms of assessing overall health and fitness on a regular basis.

There are many different methods and devices available for assessing your health and fitness, such as...

Going to regular 'MOTs' or GP check-ups
A blood pressure monitor at home
Body weight scales or composition monitors
There are also smart scales that can also check your heart rate, body water percentage and other measures while weighing you
Health alert and other monitoring devices
Thermometers
Wearable tech that comes with a sensor to track things like your heart rate

It would be interesting to hear if you use any of these (or any that's not listed above) and what you think of them?

Re: How do you assess your health?

Cleoriff — Tue, 07 May 2019 10:52:13 GMT

@Marjo

Some people deal with very unexpected conditions and illnesses.

Then their care is reliant on hospital, GP's, District nurses etc etc

Wearable tech would have absolutely no influence on the outcome of their health and in some cases could cause confusion and have an adverse effect on prescribed treatment plans.

Also home BP monitoring machines. All very well, but can the individual interpret the results?

The only two on that list which would interest me PERSONALLY,

Regular check ups/MOT's at your GP's and a thermometer.

Re: How do you assess your health?

jonsie — Tue, 07 May 2019 11:30:33 GMT

Well I do have a thermometer inherited from a long stay in hospital but I've never needed to use it yet. All my ailments require ongoing hospital treatment with the occasional doctors visits or the minor injuries treatment centre.

Latest is a broken finger from one of my many meetings with the floor....

Re: How do you assess your health?

TallTrees — Tue, 07 May 2019 13:17:59 GMT

Hi @Marjo

I use a B.P. Monitor ~ just to keep a check on it. It is easy to understand will give you green light good within parameters or orange light for outside parameters and also gives your pulse.

If orange you need a series of readings over a few days usually orange is only temporary.

It is my opinion that everyone should be informed of the systolic and diastolic pressures and get a basic understanding of how their heart functions, it is very interesting.

I have a thermometer just in case I need to know my temp. but not often.

In the main (now) we are mainly on "break down" maintenance at the G.P. no health checks there. My car gets more care at the garage than I do under the MOT scheme put in by the Govt.

There is no similar scheme at GP for human health check.

I know what my weight should be,( have ordinary scales) and my BMI ~ I keep a check on that occasionally.

I have to keep myself informed on general health and fitness.

At present I don't need any more tech.

I also took a St.John's Ambulance Course for First Aid /Accident and Emergency ~ Heart etc.

they are really nice helpful practical folk.

I did get a certificate!

I have a St.J. Ambulance full First Aid kit in my car and this book at home.

Re: How do you assess your health?

davethorp — Tue, 07 May 2019 14:48:10 GMT

Heath gadget wise I have an Apple Watch Series 4 which tracks my activity, heart rate and recently added the ECG feature to check my heart for a-fib

I’ve also got a blood pressure monitor as I am on medication for my blood pressure

Finally I’ve got a sleep monitor which tracks how long I sleep for, my heart rate when I’m sleeping, snoring, breathing rate and can also check for breathing irregularities in the night which can be a sign of sleep apnea

Re: How do you assess your health?

TallTrees — Tue, 07 May 2019 16:08:15 GMT

Wow @davethorp

I think that is marvellous. Well done ~ we should all look after ourselves and the way forward is tech.

get informed

Re: How do you assess your health?

Marjo — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:33:33 GMT

@Cleoriff good point about individuals being able to interpret the results - without that aspect, assessing anything at home would not work. How do you think this could be made to work properly then? @TallTrees mentioned her monitor being quite easy to read with colour indicators, and also that educating people on their use and what the different aspects of our health are is important. I wonder if there are any services (e.g. at the GP) that could help you learn how to use a blood pressure monitor at home for example, to make sure the results are interpreted correctly? (apart from just looking at the device manual).

@jonsie Something that came to mind related to things like broken fingers: in the future, it would be interesting if there was a device that you can use at home, to assess the healing process (after showing the finger to the GP): it would scan the finger, and tell you how the healing is going in terms of e.g. percentage. Today it looks like your finger is 45% healed. Today it's 90%, just a little bit more.... and then one day you scan it and it says it's 100% complete. It could also flag if something's going wrong with it and tell you to visit your GP.

@davethorp I'm very interested in that watch and have been considering it just for the heart monitor feature. The sleep monitor sounds interesting too. What kind of device is it - is it one of those that works together with your smartphone?

Re: How do you assess your health?

Cleoriff — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:59:37 GMT

@Marjo

My point is, the difference between individuals and the 'norm' for them.

A BP monitor will read your blood pressure and show you 'pre-prescribed' normal limits.

The Systolic rate and the Diastolic rate... for instance 135/80.

Would you know what those two readings relate to?

Which of the two is the most important?

Also and as an example, I have ALWAYS had a low B/P (Generally 100/50) So a high blood pressure for me would be 145/90. This would NOT be high for someone else. It would be classed as normal

So would I be suffering with hypertension or hypotension?

What would be the treatment for either of those?

No apologies for sounding a bit like a nurse. I am one. (albeit retired)

Re: How do you assess your health?

Marjo — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:27:00 GMT

Oh yes I see what you mean @Cleoriff . So it could be handy to have a feature in the device that allows the user to input their "norm" so the monitor can take all these things into account. And perhaps at the GP, together, they could initially set it up together with the patient and instruct how to do this in the future. Something like that could perhaps help with it. Now when it comes to those two readings you mentioned though, I wouldn't know this myself without looking it up. 😞

Re: How do you assess your health?

Cleoriff — Wed, 08 May 2019 11:39:47 GMT

@Marjo

You could always find out YOUR normal B/P from yout GP who would have it on your records. It could also be taken on your visit to ask about it.

Once you have a base line to work from, then a home monitor reading would be absolutely fine. As long as you have no heart or circulatory problems to contend with.

I remember once being admitted to hospital and the nurses (who had no access to my records) took my BP and were pleased it was 150/90. Until I told them my normal B/P was 100/60. So I was actually hypertensive (for me). That caused them to re-assess my diagnosis.

Re: How do you assess your health?

jonsie — Wed, 08 May 2019 13:18:38 GMT

@Marjo wrote:
.

@jonsie Something that came to mind related to things like broken fingers: in the future, it would be interesting if there was a device that you can use at home, to assess the healing process (after showing the finger to the GP): it would scan the finger, and tell you how the healing is going in terms of e.g. percentage. Today it looks like your finger is 45% healed. Today it's 90%, just a little bit more.... and then one day you scan it and it says it's 100% complete. It could also flag if something's going wrong with it and tell you to visit your GP.

I agree that would be brilliant. I've had my fingers strapped together for three weeks now and the finger is still swollen and very sore. I'm guessing it's half healed but it doesn't feel like it is!

Re: How do you assess your health?

davethorp — Fri, 10 May 2019 11:02:25 GMT

@Marjo I originally had the Apple Beddit sleep monitor which is quite expensive (RRP £149) and doesn't track as much as my new one which is a Withings Sleep (£85 when I bought it on amazon).

The new one is less obstrusive as it goes under the mattress rather than under the sheet, and it can detect breating abnormalities during sleep which can be a sign of sleep apnea which the old monitor couldn't do

The Apple Watch series 4 is a good piece of kit, more so now they've activated the ECG feature here in the UK. The larger screen compared to the previous series watches is very good too and allows you to put more information on your watch face. My watch face currently shows me battery percentage, outdoor temerature (high and low for day), my heart rate, my daily health goals, the date, a shortcut to the workout app, my calendar, sunrise/sunset and of course the time!

Re: How do you assess your health?

Cleoriff — Fri, 10 May 2019 12:10:51 GMT

@jonsie wrote:
@Marjo wrote:
.

@jonsie Something that came to mind related to things like broken fingers: in the future, it would be interesting if there was a device that you can use at home, to assess the healing process (after showing the finger to the GP): it would scan the finger, and tell you how the healing is going in terms of e.g. percentage. Today it looks like your finger is 45% healed. Today it's 90%, just a little bit more.... and then one day you scan it and it says it's 100% complete. It could also flag if something's going wrong with it and tell you to visit your GP.

I agree that would be brilliant. I've had my fingers strapped together for three weeks now and the finger is still swollen and very sore. I'm guessing it's half healed but it doesn't feel like it is!

@jonsie Normally 2-8 weeks for a fractured finger to heal.

Depends what part of the finger is broken and how severe it is....

Re: How do you assess your health?

jonsie — Fri, 10 May 2019 12:16:02 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
@jonsie wrote:
@Marjo wrote:
.

@jonsie Something that came to mind related to things like broken fingers: in the future, it would be interesting if there was a device that you can use at home, to assess the healing process (after showing the finger to the GP): it would scan the finger, and tell you how the healing is going in terms of e.g. percentage. Today it looks like your finger is 45% healed. Today it's 90%, just a little bit more.... and then one day you scan it and it says it's 100% complete. It could also flag if something's going wrong with it and tell you to visit your GP.

I agree that would be brilliant. I've had my fingers strapped together for three weeks now and the finger is still swollen and very sore. I'm guessing it's half healed but it doesn't feel like it is!
@jonsie Normally 2-8 weeks for a fractured finger to heal.
Depends what part of the finger is broken and how severe it is....

The bottom bit near the Knuckle....forget the name but all my hand is swollen. Apparently a bad sprain too. Guess that's what happens when 11 stone of rippling muscles meets the floor from 6 feet

Re: How do you assess your health?

Cleoriff — Fri, 10 May 2019 14:02:37 GMT

Put some ice packs on it and keep it elevated on a cushion when you can @jonsie

Re: How do you assess your health?

jonsie — Fri, 10 May 2019 15:48:03 GMT

Damned awkward at the moment, it's not easy putting a leg on one-handed.....