Treatment of symptoms and chronic illness has trumped the use of preventative healthcare in America at the cost of our long-term health and pocketbooks. Preventive healthcare could help to eliminate the multi-billion dollar price tag that comes with preventable chronic illnesses. Technological advances and paradigm shifts can contribute to our perspective on healthcare moving into the future.
There’s an App for That
It seems as though a new health or fitness app is being developed every day, to our benefit. Wearable technology, such as a Fitbit, and health apps are useful tools to track diet, fitness, and even menstrual cycles, to hold ourselves accountable for our own wellness. In a society where we are so tied to our phones, fitness trackers and apps can actually help us to eat more mindfully by tracking our food intake and seeing nutritional values with such ease.
Meditation and yoga apps can be utilized to lower blood pressure and reduce stress-induced illnesses. Reminders and notifications within the mindful apps can serve a whole new purpose to allow you a moment of pause for your mental and long-term physical health. It is important to keep in mind that screen time causes stress on the eyes, so make sure you are caring for your eyes and not causing yourself any additional harm.
More Than Meatless Mondays
The seemingly simple task of investing time and attention to our daily diets would help to alleviate obesity and health issues in millions of Americans. Due to our fast-paced lives, this is not always possible. Some people will ignore symptoms of food allergies and stomach issues that could be signs of bigger issues like GERD or leaky gut syndrome.
There seems to be the beginning of a paradigm shift happening in America. Those who are health conscious are recognizing the benefits of vegetarianism and are adopting more meat-free meals into their diets. Going part-time vegetarian as a means of preventive healthcare can help to reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity and heart disease.
Potential for Startups
As with any rising trend, there is a need for further development and availability for innovation. If preventative healthcare were to take the lead in the medical field, there would be many different opportunities for new startup companies to offer leadership, coaching, and testing in preventative care.
Counsyl is a startup that offers inherited cancer screenings (among other tests) to allow for deeper knowledge of the potential risks. This may be useful for those that have inherited the gene that causes breast cancer so that they can avoid medications that increase the risk of onset of it. Omada is a 16-week online program that helps coach people that have an elevated risk of chronic disease towards healthier lifestyle choices. As we move into the future, there is so much room for further development of programs and companies that can help prevent, rather than treat, illnesses and diseases.
As patients begin to look at their own health and take charge of their lifestyle choices, it is the hope that there will be a feeling of empowerment. Each individual acknowledges that they have the power to prevent chronic illness, avoid unnecessary hospitalization, or prolong their life, there should be enough incentive to take action. The future is offering more tools to make such personal efforts more successful without as much effort that may have been previously needed.
Need A Massage? Learn How To Give One To Yourself And Your Loved Ones
Receiving a massage, whether it’s given by someone else or self-administered, can help loosen your muscles and establish a better connection not only with your body but also with the people you love.
