According to the American Heart Association, 6.2 million people in the US suffer from heart failure (HF). This chronic illness results from the heart's inability to pump enough blood to the body, which raises medical expenses while causing severe discomfort as well. Fortunately, the overall treatment of patients and heart failure management is becoming simpler due to new digital health technology. Let's sneak into some of the exciting tech features:
- For those who want to effectively manage heart failure, mobile health apps have gained popularity. Patients can monitor their symptoms, medications, and diet with the use of these applications. For example, users may keep an eye on their daily routines and track their health with applications like MyHeartCounts and HeartHabits. Based on research, individuals who use these applications report feeling more in control of their illness and adhering to their treatment programs. Despite their benefits, these applications should supplement routine trips to the doctor rather than take their place.
- Heart failure management greatly benefits from the use of wearable technology, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches. These gadgets monitor critical indicators such as heart rate, amount of exercise, and sleep habits. As per a survey, hospital visits among patients who used wearables have decreased by 20%. For example, if a patient detects an abnormally elevated heart rate, they can notify their physician promptly and minimize consequences.
- Particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic, telehealth services have changed a great deal. It's simpler for patients to receive the treatment they require while being safe when they can interact with their healthcare professionals virtually from the comfort of their own homes. In the midst of the pandemic, telemedicine was utilized by 70% of cardiologists to treat patients with heart failure. Patients find it easier to maintain contact with their physicians while using this method.
- The management of heart failure is largely dependent on remote patient monitoring devices. Healthcare providers get the data collected from equipment such as blood pressure monitors and weight scales and can evaluate it. In accordance with a recent report, compared to patients receiving normal treatment, participants enrolled in remote monitoring systems had a 50% decreased risk of hospitalization. Additionally, to prevent things from getting worse, a patient's doctor can get in touch with them if anything goes wrong.
How Can We Better Manage Our Heart Health with the help of These Digital Technologies?
The way heart failure is managed in the US is changing as a result of digital health technologies. Patients can maintain their health and enhance their everyday lives using wearable technology, smartphone health applications, telemedicine, and remote monitoring. As these technologies advance, we should anticipate increasingly superior and customized treatment solutions because when healthcare systems adopt these tools, big changes are on the verge for heart failure treatment, focusing on being more patient-centric.
