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nurse-floyd · 11 months ago

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F1 and Biometrics

Biometric gloves came into play in F1 in 2018 to give medical teams immediate access to important information regarding driver conditions after an incident. It allows for vitals to be measured before, at the time of an incident and after the crash until they are rescued and more advanced monitoring is able to be applied. It is also a big help if a driver is involved in a crash that means they are not accessible straight away or cannot be visualized for monitoring so this allows teams to get immediate access to this information.

According to the FIA website, this was a difficulty by medical teams when Carlos Sainz crashed in the 2015 Russian GP where he hit the barrier head-on at 153km/h (roughly 95mph). The first row of the barrier was resting on top of him, so medical teams had to wait for this to be removed before they had access to him. Thankfully he wasn’t hurt during this crash, but medical teams didn’t know this initially as this technology wasn’t available and being used.

The sensors were basically made custom to F1 drivers. Regular sensors had not been fire tested and were not comfortable enough for the drivers to wear for long races. They use Bluetooth technology and can send data within a 500m and are powered by a small battery that drivers charge before races.

Drivers gloves have a 3mm sensor that is stitched into the palm of the fabric and monitors their vital signs during races. They measure pulse oximetry which measures the amount of oxygen being carried in the blood as well as drivers pulse rates. Obviously if a driver has an injury that is affecting their breathing, this will show in the saturations that would decline rapidly. Having this technology allows physiological readings and biometrics to be continuously monitored throughout the race from start to finish. Data from the sensor transmits to an iPhone app and gives medical crews remote and advance information on the driver’s condition. The small biometric readers are flexible and fire resistant up to 1,800 degrees Celsius (3,272 degrees Fahrenheit) for 22 seconds.

In the future there are even plans to implement sensors for respiratory rate and temperature to further monitor drivers which will not only enhance safety features but allow teams and drivers to monitor performance better.

OMP, an equipment supplier, has been developing wearable biometric monitoring systems since the introduction of the biometric sensors in 2019. An undershirt equipped with sensors and a measurement unit would transmit and record biometric data allowing for real-time monitoring of health through ECG and thoracic expansion. This would allow monitoring of drivers heart rhythms and breathing rate which would not only benefit medical teams in the case of an incident but also help identify stress, fatigue and any alteration in conditions. This would be useful considering the amount of stress drivers have been put through in the past in hot countries for example Saudi Arabia GP 2023 when many drivers retired, had to be taken to medical, threw up in their helmets or passed out after the race.

TV crews can also display biometric data during broadcasts to show the physical condition of a driver as they battle on track. However, there have been questions about the ethics and use of biometrics and why can’t we as an audience see drivers heart rates etc on screen if this data is being constantly collected. The FIA has strict guidelines about the use of raw biometric data. Section 2.4 of the FIA Guidelines for the Collection and Usage of Biometric Data in Motorsport, states that the use of biometric data can be used for more than just medical and performance monitoring and can be used for entertainment and marketing purposes but only if it is changed from raw data into a variable to protect the private health information of the driver. The FIA won’t allow the use of biometric data to be publicly available in the original form/ measurement unless the driver provides informed consent.

Essentially, driver onboard vitals are likely not to be available live due to strict laws on data protection and sharing health related information about drivers as it is protected health information. In the case of an accident or emergency, data is not allowed to be used even if the information is changed to protect the driver unless it is for medical and rescue use and post-accident information.

Sources: (x) (x) (x) (x) (x)

This also led me down a rabbit hole and found another study (it was anonymous but if you’re a sleuth you can probably take a guess at what F1 driver it was) where they monitored his heart rate during qualifying to see what his average was throughout the race to test the cardiovascular strain F1 drivers are put under!

#f1 #formula 1 #formula one #f1 science #f1 medicine #biometrics

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mariacallous · 2 months ago

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When the writer Amanda Hess was twenty-nine weeks pregnant with her first child, her doctor, looking at an ultrasound, “saw something he did not like.” He suspected a rare genetic condition; Hess underwent an amniocentesis and then an MRI. She sought out a second opinion—which augured catastrophe and, it turned out, was completely wrong—and a third, steadying one. Her son was eventually given a diagnosis of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, which puts babies at higher risk for hypoglycemia and certain cancers and makes their little bodies grow fast; often, their tongues become too large for their mouths, requiring corrective surgery.

Extensive testing showed no genetic or environmental cause for her son’s condition, yet Hess felt somehow culpable. “I worried over what I had done to trigger it, over the dark secret of my body that had determined his suffering,” she writes in her memoir, “Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age” (Doubleday). Her apprehensions were reinforced by her medical chart, which logged ominous-seeming F.Y.I.s that included “Advanced maternal age” (she was thirty-five), “Teratogen exposure” (owing to a tablet of the anti-anxiety medication Ativan, taken at the six-week mark), and “Anxiety during pregnancy.” These facts revealed nothing about her baby’s prospects, yet they followed Hess around like a misdemeanor rap sheet. Immediately after her son’s birth, by C-section, a labor-and-delivery nurse turned to her—“the paralyzed, split-open, twenty-second-old mother”—and asked, “When did you stop taking the Ativan in pregnancy?”

“Second Life” is not mainly a medical odyssey but, rather, a mordant contemplation of the many screens—from ultrasounds and pregnancy-tracking apps to baby monitors and children’s TV—that reflected and mediated Hess’s experience of pregnancy and early motherhood. Through the porthole of her phone, she encountered the “freebirth” movement, made up of mothers who are skeptical of prenatal screenings and tests, hospital births, and pediatric vaccines, referring to conventional pregnancy care as “birth in captivity.” Hess developed a queasy fascination with these women. “If I had had a wild pregnancy, dismissed prenatal care as a scam, I never would have received that terrifying ultrasound,” she writes. “But I also would have denied myself the information that I needed to protect my child after he was born.” The diagnosis fortunately led Hess and her husband to a physician who specialized in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and to a hospital with a suitable NICU.

Hess’s book arrives at a historical moment—post-Dobbs, pro-natalist, techno-dystopian—in which both pregnant bodies and the stuff of reproduction itself have come under an extraordinary degree of scrutiny, judgment, and control. Some states routinely charge women with child neglect or endangerment for drug use during pregnancy (and even prescription medications have raised alarms). In Nebraska, a teen-ager and her mother both served time in prison after the girl took abortion drugs and delivered a stillborn infant. And many patients, including those who receive tragic prenatal diagnoses, cannot access abortion care unless they travel long distances out of state, often at great expense and even at legal risk.

Meanwhile, on the other side of what Hess calls the “reproductive technology gap,” a number of startups are touting their powers to select for maximally optimized offspring. Sam Altman, the C.E.O. of OpenAI, is an investor in the biotech company Genomic Prediction, which offers the LifeView Embryo Health Score® Test. It claims to evaluate I.V.F. embryos for a host of polygenic conditions, including propensity for developing diabetes, certain cancers, or schizophrenia; Stephen Hsu, a co-founder of Genomic Prediction, has said that the company’s technology can also predict I.Q., but that “society is not ready for it.” A similar company, Orchid, has backing from Anne Wojcicki, the co-founder of the genetic-testing company 23andMe. “Sex is for fun, and embryo screening is for babies,” Orchid’s founder, Noor Siddiqui, has said. (Creating true designer babies using gene-editing tools such as CRISPR is still largely forbidden.)

In recent years, the term “snowplow parenting” has come into vogue to describe a certain strain of affluent, vigilant child-rearing, one that works to smooth an offspring’s life path at every turn. Polygenic embryo screening may represent the snowplow driven to its logical extreme: the kind of parent who can drop six figures on Ivy-feeder preschools or comprehensive college-admissions counselling might happily intervene at the embryonic stage if she can boost her future kid’s I.Q. The ascendance of such technology, and its prohibitive expense, is a boon to the Nietzschean wing of the Silicon Valley overclass, which has long suspected that all its money makes it special. Perhaps now its genetically advantaged progeny can remove all doubt.

But most parents-to-be don’t breathe that rarefied air, which swirls with false expectations and, for some, carries a whiff of eugenics. Hess, who is a critic-at-large at the Times, takes an ambivalent view even of the more ordinary, in-utero technology that offered such widely diverging predictions about her baby’s health. Her prenatal diagnosis let her create a safe harbor for her newborn, yet the question of when or whether to receive such information remains an unsettling one. When a scientist tells her that, someday soon, a test that screens for Beckwith-Wiedemann and related disorders may be available much earlier in pregnancy, Hess writes, “I wasn’t sure that I wanted it to exist. I thought about the expectant parents who might jump, scared, at an early chance to prevent kids like my son.”

The “dark secret” that Hess ruminates on, one that can haunt the pregnant body and its progeny, hearkens back to a pre-Darwinian concept known as “maternal impression”—broadly speaking, the belief that a woman’s ideas, fears, and experiences during pregnancy leave an adverse physical mark on her infant. “Early modern medical manuals understood the mother basically as a psychic inscription machine,” the historian Hannah Zeavin writes in “Mother Media: Hot and Cool Parenting in the Twentieth Century.” “If she ate, thought, or did the wrong thing, it would be recorded in and on her developing child.” The maternal mind and body, Zeavin argues, was, historically, the ultimate transmission device, “the literal medium through whom the ‘message’ of the child had to pass into life.”

This idea, Hess writes in “Second Life,” “pitched forward through the centuries until it made its way to me.” She sees vestiges of maternal impression in how that single tab of Ativan—along with the anxiety it was meant to treat—was enshrined in her pregnancy records. “Teratogen exposure” refers to a substance that may cause malformation of an embryo; Hess notes, with dry horror, that the root “terato” means “monster,” and the suffix “-gen” is “thing that produces or causes.” “The online medical chart was supposed to be modern and scientific,” she writes. “But when I decoded its medical terminology, it said that I had created a monster.”

A largely unscientific hypervigilance about the blameworthy habits and behaviors of pregnant women is, as Hess discovers, a place of convergence for the medical establishment and the fringe-medicine crowd. At an outdoor retreat for freebirthers, she comes across a chiropractor-influencer who professes that most illnesses are created by “conflict shock”—some distressing life event that the patient has not resolved. When Hess later asks for “clues to why and how to treat” her son’s enlarged tongue, the influencer responds, in part, “The tongue is needed for speaking, sucking, and swallowing. During pregnancy did you experience a self devaluation related to one of these things? Did you need to ‘bite your tongue’?”

Although the reproductive-technology enthusiasts of Silicon Valley and beyond are not necessarily immune to such junk science, they are relatively sanguine about maternal impression. Elon Musk, who has fourteen-ish kids and has called declining birth rates “one of the biggest risks to civilization,” has fathered several of his children using surrogates and seems generally unfussed about where his sperm may roam. One of Orchid’s investor-clients told The Information that Siddiqui suggested she use a surrogate for her children, just because: “She was, like, ‘Well, this is nine months of your life, and it’s not that expensive.’ ” There is also the looming possibility of artificial wombs—which could eliminate the need for human labor altogether, bringing DOGE-like efficiency to the business of breeding.

It might come as a surprise that this tribe of biohacking control freaks is so blasé about outsourcing the work of gestating a human being to other, presumably less optimized vessels. And in fact the venture capitalists Malcolm and Simone Collins, who are the unofficial First Couple of American pro-natalism, have not used gestational surrogates for their children. Otherwise, though, they exemplify a hyper-rationalized faith in genetic determinism: that the message, in the form of DNA, trumps the medium. The Collinses have enlisted Genomic Prediction to run background checks on their embryos and another DNA-testing company to assess the data and then rank ideal candidates for onboarding according to criteria such as potential I.Q. and risk of developing anxiety or “brain fog.”

Within this paradigm of preselection, the work of raising children is, to some extent, completed upon implantation, and allows for what Malcolm calls “intrinsically low-effort parenting.” As depicted in a viral profile of the family in the Guardian last year, this parenting style accommodates unlimited iPad time at age two and the occasional smack across the face.

The Collinses demonstrate how advances in reproductive technology are resulting in unexpected political, social, and even aesthetic realignments. In many respects, they resemble the neo-Quiverfull, self-isolating, homeschooling families who populate so much of the Christian-MAHA sector of social media, and who overlap with the freebirthers who command Hess’s attention in “Second Life.” But the couple’s embrace of avant-garde science and medicine, Simone’s C-section births, and their autistic identities—Simone and two of their children have autism diagnoses—put them at odds with the same group, which rejects the medical establishment and fetishizes maternal impression and “natural” birth, and whose antipathy to vaccines is rooted in an irrational fear of autism.

The collision of these stridently individualistic ideologies is manifest in an online homeschooling platform that the Collinses developed, Parrhesia.io, which sounds like a disease in a Pynchon novel, and is, per an introductory video, “Using AI to Create a Free Alternative to the Education System.” The online marketing includes a few photographs of what we can take to be young homeschoolers using the platform, and, aptly, they all appear to be alone at their screen, as if they’d been programmed from conception for self-sufficiency.

As techno-oligarchs increasingly supplant the democratic state, its functions, and its elected representatives through undue influence and brute force, a Silicon Valley brand of carefully curated pro-natalism can begin to look like top-down social-genetic engineering, in which the children themselves are abstractions. In an illuminating suite of reporting on the frontiers of fertility for the Times, the journalist Anna Louie Sussman summed up the tech world’s view of family as one “in which children are often spoken of as a means to something else—staving off population collapse, an optimization project, a data-driven experiment—rather than an end in themselves.” But what should that end be, ideally? And what means, technological or otherwise, are allowed in reaching it? When you close your eyes and imagine your future children, what is it morally permissible to see? What should a person want when a person wants kids?

The vast majority of expectant parents in the United States don’t have access to the extreme-screening services provided by the likes of Orchid and Genomic Prediction, and thus don’t have to personally confront the ethical questions that the technology raises. But, in the last decade, first-trimester blood tests that screen for a host of chromosomal anomalies have become increasingly routine. These tests, when they detect lethal anomalies, can be a mercy for pregnant people. But Hess observes that, among the sunny promotional materials for the biomedical company Natera and its prenatal genetic-screening blood test, Panorama, “there were no pictures of babies or adults who appeared to have any condition screened by the test.” The unspoken assumption is that a patient who receives a positive test result will not want to become the parent of a child with a genetic disorder, however mild or compatible with a happy life it may be.

In “Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World,” the disability activist Jessica Slice posits that embryonic testing is a eugenic practice, and that the decision to end a pregnancy owing to an in-utero diagnosis is often “strongly influenced by medical and social ableism and misconceptions.” Like Hess, Slice supports abortion rights, but she emphasizes the intertwined histories of the reproductive-rights movement and the early-twentieth-century eugenics campaign. Eugenics, Slice writes, is essentially capitalistic in its aim to eliminate those who are perceived as a drain on the collective; as she puts it, people with disabilities “are the weakest links of capitalism.” This framework applies to how companies such as Genomic Prediction and Orchid create futures markets for babies, helping prospective parents to manage risk and calculate return on investment.

From Slice’s line of reasoning, one might infer that fewer fetuses with serious anomalies are aborted in countries where the ruthless logic of markets holds less sway over everyday life than it does in the U.S. But that does not seem to be the case in Denmark, for example, which has one of the most comprehensive and generous welfare states in the world. It also provides universal prenatal screening for Down syndrome, and more than ninety-five per cent of patients who receive a diagnosis decide to end their pregnancies (in the U.S., it’s between sixty-seven and eighty-five per cent).

This silent consensus on Down syndrome, at least in some cultures and communities, might be seen as a consequence of “velvet eugenics,” a term used by the bioethicist Rosemarie Garland-Thomson to describe “the enterprise of genetic technology and other medical interventions aimed at bringing all humans to a standard, ‘normal’ form and function.” The coinage is vivid, useful, and flawed; deluxe I.V.F. for rich people and non-invasive prenatal testing for everyone else is a matter of choice, and not comparable to the legal violence of, say, Buck v. Bell, the Supreme Court case that, in 1927, upheld the state of Virginia’s right to forcibly sterilize people who were deemed intellectually disabled.

Perhaps inevitably, some critiques of velvet eugenics enfold a soft, muffled doubt about abortion rights. In 2022, a couple of months after the Supreme Court delivered its decision in Dobbs, Garland-Thomson published a paper with the philosopher Joel Michael Reynolds that seemed to endorse at least some aspects of “fetal personhood,” or the legal concept that would give a fetus constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. The co-authors’ nomenclature aligned with that of Clarence Thomas, who has written that abortions based on prenatal diagnoses “constitutionalize the views of the 20th-century eugenics movement.” By this logic, ending a pregnancy because of a prenatal test result might violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

One can reject the supposition that establishing fetal personhood could be a boon to people with disabilities and still feel that there is something eerie and terribly sad about the near-unanimous verdict on Down syndrome in some countries, especially given the isolating and demoralizing effect it has on people with Down syndrome and their families. At the same time, the overwhelming result at least bespeaks equality of access to reproductive-health technology in those countries. The state of affairs in the U.S. is different. A rich mother-to-be may get to have exacting input on whether an embryo meets her standards for becoming a person; if a pregnant woman is poor or in the wrong state, she may have none at all.

Both the ancient dogma of maternal impression and the emerging ethos of Silicon Valley baby-coders offer the promise of control. But parenting is not a programming language, and a child is not an engineering problem or a structure to be built to exact specifications. If that’s what you want, you should design a night club or clone your dog. Becoming a parent, Hess writes in “Second Life,” does not comport with the desire “to control and optimize every aspect of life. Babies don’t work like that, and that’s part of what makes parenting meaningful: you do not get to choose.” What’s more, the higher and more narrowly prescribed their expectations for their children, the more unmoored parents will be once their children inevitably outgrow and defy those expectations.

The moral and emotional wreckage of these thwarted conjectures can be witnessed in Musk, who has repeatedly made the appalling quip that his daughter Vivian Wilson, who is trans, was “killed by the woke mind virus.” Most of Musk’s children are boys, which has prompted speculation that Musk is engaging in sex selection; Wilson was assigned male at birth, a designation that she likened to “a commodity that was bought and paid for” in a recent Threads post. “So when I was feminine as a child and then turned out to be transgender,” she went on, “I was going against the product that was sold.” The commodity was found to be defective, perhaps falsely advertised, but not eligible for return. The only option, it seems, was to discard it. Unfortunately for Musk, there is no genetic test to predict whether a fetus will become a trans person, or if she is at pronounced risk of contracting the woke mind virus.

Reproductive technology may assume the chrome-and-glass form of an existential time machine, zipping frictionlessly into the future to retrieve high-definition images of a premium-grade child. But we can only presume so much about a child who is not here. “Second Life” is foremost a mash note to Hess’s firstborn son, who is a complete and ongoing joy, and much of the book’s charisma is rooted in its mood of droll astonishment. “The act of photographing him was a compulsive expression of my wonder at his existence,” Hess writes. “It’s him: tap. He is here: tap. He remains: tap.” The wild fact of her son installs an epistemological brick wall between the before and after of his being, and hers: “Past-me saw a prenatal diagnosis as a tragedy; present-me knew that no tragedy had occurred.” Despite the oracular hubris of the genetic-screening vanguard, the story a parent wants has only one primary source, one reliable narrator. You have to wait for him.

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howlsofbloodhounds · 11 months ago

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So I was doing some looking around and researching into possible real life equivalents for Color’s physical condition, such as his fragility to the point of possible death if he overexerts his abilities.

Color’s condition—which is characterized by physical fragility, fatigue, and the potential for severe physical deterioration—has similarities to several real-life conditions that affect energy levels, muscle strength, and overall physical integrity such as:

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) / Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)

Symptoms: Extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest, muscle and joint pain, cognitive difficulties, and post-exertional malaise (worsening of symptoms after physical or mental exertion).

Like Color, individuals with CFS/ME have limited energy reserves and can experience significant physical and cognitive fatigue from overexertion. They need to carefully manage their activity levels to avoid severe consequences.

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease)

Symptoms: Fragile bones that break easily, muscle weakness, and fatigue.

The physical fragility and risk of cracking or breaking with exertion in Color's body can be likened to the bone fragility in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta. Managing physical stress and avoiding overexertion is crucial.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS)

Symptoms: Hypermobile joints, skin that bruises easily, chronic pain, and fatigue.

The combination of fragility, easy bruising or tearing (cracking in Color’s case), and chronic fatigue can parallel the experiences of those with EDS, where physical stress can lead to significant issues.

Like individuals with CFS/ME, Color would need to pace his activities, taking frequent breaks and avoiding overexertion to prevent severe fatigue and physical damage. He might need to prioritize his activities, focusing on essential tasks and avoiding unnecessary exertion.

Similar to those with brittle bone disease, Color would need to avoid situations that could physically stress his body and lead to cracking or dusting.

He might use supportive devices or strategies to minimize physical strain, such as ergonomic tools for photography or mobility aids for traveling.

Techniques to manage chronic pain and discomfort, which could include medication, physical therapy, or other interventions. Ensuring adequate nutrition to support his body’s needs and potentially mitigate some of the fatigue and physical issues.

Developing coping mechanisms to handle the emotional stress of his physical condition, possibly through therapy or support groups. Relying on friends like Killer, Epic, Delta, and Beta for emotional support and understanding during difficult times.

Some supportive devices or strategies Color might make use of at his leisure, particularly with matters such as traveling and hiking, he could use things like orthopedic supports, mobility aids, things for pain management, adaptive equipment, assistive technology and more.

He could use braces and splints to support unstable joints and prevent injuries, and/or compression garments to help with joint stability and reduce pain.

Mobility aids such as walking poles or trekking poles to provide stability and reduce impact on joints during hiking. (His walking poles are definitely covered in stickers and drawings from all his friends.)

He could use portable heat and cold packs to help manage pain and inflammation as well as portable massager to relieve muscle tension and pain.

Adaptive equipment such as ergonomic backpacks designed to reduce strain and distribute weight evenly. Adjustable hiking sticks for customization based on height and terrain.

Voice-Activated apps and devices for navigation and reducing the need for physical interaction with devices. Smartphone apps for tracking symptoms, medication, and managing energy levels.

Stress- relief tools like stress balls, fidget toys, or calming apps to help manage PTSD symptoms or overstimulation.

Personal comfort items or sensory aids that provide emotional support during travel or hiking, such as all the evidence and trinkets of his loved ones back home or spiritual/religious items or symbols. Techniques and tools for managing fatigue, like scheduled rest breaks and planning shorter, manageable hikes.

Travel planning apps to help with organizing trips, finding accessible accommodations, and managing health needs.

(And of course this isn’t supposed to be me diagnosing color with anything, or saying what he does or doesn’t have. Mostly just to take some things this character experiences and link it to some real life equivalents, that could potentially help better understand him and what he deals with.)

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stuarttechnologybob · 7 days ago

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How Healthcare App Development Services Can Improve Patient Engagement?

Healthcare App Development Services

In today's digital and modern technology era, patient engagement is more than just appointment reminders and common alerts—it's about empowering patients to take control of their health. That's where Healthcare App Development plays a vital role. With the rise of mobile health service offerings, clinics and hospitals can connect and merge with patients in real time and without delays and any major considerations, offering more personalized, accessible, and proactive care.

Anytime, Anywhere Access to Health Information:

With a custom healthcare app, patients can access their medical records and stored data, test results, prescriptions, and doctor recommendations from the comfort of their homes or at ease with its implementation. Healthcare App Development enables real-time information sharing while making it an easier option for patients to stay alert and informed with an involved role in their treatment journey.

Simplifying Appointment Confirmation Process:

An appointment and a specific time slot confirmation used to be a time taking task but not now. With a well-crafted application, patients can check the doctor availability within the app, choose a time slot as per preferred choice and receive instant confirmations of the booking. While the automated reminders also reduce the no-shows and improve the patient satisfaction with its implementation into the infrastructure.

Two-Way Communication:

Modern healthcare apps allow secure messaging between patients and providers. This promotes better communication, helping patients ask questions, request medication refills, or report symptoms—all without the need to visit the clinic. Healthcare App Development integrates secure chat and video consultations to support remote care.

Personalized Health Alerts and Reminders:

Patients are more likely to follow and get the most suitable treatment plans when they receive timely reminders. Healthcare apps can send alerts for medication, upcoming visits, or daily health tasks. The additional features promote healthy habits and options that lead towards improved health outcomes.

Data Tracking for Chronic Care:

While applications track down the vital signs, blood sugar levels, physical activity, or sleep patterns and other common tracking measures with its usage. This is especially essential for patients managing and going through chronic conditions. Healthcare App Development makes it easy to sync wearable devices and generate reports for doctors to review.

Supporting Mental Health and Wellness:

Many healthcare apps now incorporate features such as guided meditation, mental health check-ins, and self-assessment tools. These additions support whole-patient care beyond physical symptoms.

Trusted service providers and professional experts like Suma Soft, IBM, and Cyntexa specialize in Healthcare App Development. They help create secure, user-friendly, and customized apps that meet patient needs while improving operational efficiency for healthcare providers.

#it services #technology #saas #software #saas development company #saas technology #digital transformation

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aktechworld · 2 months ago

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Enhancing Road Safety Through Technology in 2025

Introduction:

In 2025, Canada is accelerating the use of modern technology to improve road safety, especially for new and at-risk drivers. From AI monitoring tools to real-time driving feedback, the licensing system now embraces digital innovation more than ever.

Key Points:

AI-Driven Road Testing Systems: Road test examiners now use AI-equipped tablets to monitor driver behaviour, instantly recording mistakes and issuing pattern-based alerts during exams. This ensures standardized and unbiased assessments.

Telematics Integration for Learners: New learners can opt-in to telematics programs that provide feedback on braking, speeding, and turning. The data, viewable via platforms like licenseprep.ca, helps both drivers and guardians track real-time performance.

Automated Hazard Simulation Training: Simulated environments mimic weather hazards, wildlife crossings, and urban traffic flow—available through certified driver training apps partnered with licenseprep.ca.

Vision Tech Integration: AI-based vision testing devices analyse eye movement and reaction times, ensuring medically fit drivers are licensed and flagged early for issues.

Digital Alerts for High-Risk Drivers: The system now flags repeated offenses and sends automatic digital notices to licensing center's, prompting reassessments or temporary restrictions.

#TechForSafety #RoadTech2025 #SmartDrivingCanada #AIInLicensing #licenseprep

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zonetanghouse · 10 days ago

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Unlocking Mobile Space Capsule Homes: Modern Living’s Innovative Edge

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In an era of evolving lifestyles and technological advancements, the demand for adaptable living spaces has surged. Mobile space capsule homes have emerged as a groundbreaking solution, blending cutting-edge technology with innovative design. This article delves into their key advantages, showcasing why they’re reshaping modern living and offering versatile applications across industries.

1. Unmatched Mobility for Personalized Lifestyles

The standout feature of mobile capsule homes is their exceptional portability. These dwellings can be transported effortlessly to diverse locations—mountains, beaches, forests, or urban hubs. This flexibility empowers residents to curate their environments seasonally. Imagine spending spring in a blooming valley, summer by the seaside, autumn in a forest of red foliage, and winter in a warmer climate. In emergencies, such as natural disasters or job relocations, these homes provide instant, secure shelter anywhere. Unlike traditional homes, they’re unbound by land constraints, expanding living horizons.

2. Efficient Space Utilization in Compact Designs

Despite their compact footprints, capsule dwellings maximize interior functionality through clever layouts and multifunctional furniture. Open-plan designs merge living, dining, and kitchen areas for a spacious feel. Embedded kitchen cabinets save space while enhancing storage. Foldable or extendable dining tables accommodate guests, while custom beds with under-bed storage optimize bedroom space. Compact bathrooms integrate showers, toilets, and sinks efficiently, utilizing wall space for shelving. Some models even feature lofts or mezzanines for additional bedrooms, studies, or storage, proving that small spaces can offer big versatility.

3. Durable Materials for Resilient Living

Built to withstand transportation and diverse climates, space capsule homes employ robust materials like aluminum, steel, or composites. Aluminum’s lightweight, corrosion-resistant nature suits coastal or humid regions, while steel offers superior strength for extreme weather. Internal frames use sturdy metals, ensuring structural integrity during earthquakes, storms, or heavy snowfall. Durable, eco-friendly interior finishes—fireproof, waterproof, and moisture-resistant—enhance safety and longevity, reducing maintenance costs.

4. Smart & Eco-Conscious Design

Capsule homes integrate smart technology and sustainability. Smart home systems enable remote control of temperature, humidity, lighting, and appliances via mobile apps. For instance, pre-cooling the home in summer or pre-heating it in winter ensures comfort upon arrival. Automated blinds and ventilation systems adjust based on light and air quality. Renewable energy sources, like rooftop solar panels, power homes in sunny regions, reducing grid dependency. Efficient water systems recycle graywater for irrigation or flushing, promoting water conservation.

5. Versatile Applications Across Industries

Mobile capsule homes serve multiple purposes:

Tourism: As boutique guesthouses or vacation retreats, they offer unique stays in scenic locations—beachfront cabins with ocean views or mountain lodges with panoramic vistas.

Commerce: Transformed into mobile offices, stores, or exhibition spaces, they cater to startups needing flexible, cost-effective workspaces or retailers seeking high-traffic event locations.

Emergency Response: In disasters, they act as temporary medical units, shelters, or command centers, providing rapid, safe accommodation for victims and rescuers.

Conclusion

Mobile space capsule homes redefine living with their mobility, space efficiency, durability, smart design, and versatility. They cater to personalized lifestyles while offering scalable solutions for tourism, commerce, and emergencies. As technology advances and sustainability becomes paramount, these homes are poised to revolutionize living, offering richer, more adaptable experiences for all.

#space capsule house #Capsule House #container house #space capsule homes #Prefab Home #Mobile Home #Luxury Villa #Youtube

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shangri-la-dispensaries-ohio · 2 months ago

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Shangri-La’s Ascent: Setting a New Standard for Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio

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As the cannabis industry continues to thrive in the Buckeye State, Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio are stepping into a new era of growth and accessibility. One name that has emerged as a true pioneer in this evolving space is Shangri-La. With a firm focus on quality, community, and customer care, Shangri-La is setting the bar high for what a cannabis dispensary should be.

Ohio’s Shifting Cannabis Climate Since Ohio introduced its medical marijuana program in 2016, the state has steadily moved toward broader acceptance and legalization. The introduction of recreational cannabis in early 2025 marked a major milestone—and Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio have responded with new strategies and services. Shangri-La has been a leader during this transition, adapting quickly to regulatory changes and educating the public about safe and informed cannabis use.

Their forward-thinking approach has helped establish trust among patients and recreational users alike, making them a preferred choice for those new to cannabis as well as experienced consumers.

Redefining the Cannabis Experience What truly sets Shangri-La apart among Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio is its vision of transforming cannabis retail into an experience rooted in wellness, hospitality, and personalization. Every Shangri-La location is thoughtfully designed with customer comfort in mind—featuring open, inviting spaces and expertly trained staff ready to help.

From pain relief to stress management, Shangri-La offers a range of carefully curated solutions, aiming to meet the diverse needs of its community.

Unmatched Product Selection and Quality At Shangri-La, quality isn’t just a promise—it’s a standard. As one of the most trusted Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio, Shangri-La partners with leading cultivators to bring a robust inventory of top-tier cannabis products to its customers. Whether it’s potent flower, edibles, cartridges, tinctures, or topicals, each product is meticulously vetted and lab-tested for safety and effectiveness.

Customers can count on consistent experiences, whether they’re choosing high-THC options for therapeutic relief or CBD-dominant products for daily wellness.

Educating and Empowering the Community Unlike many Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio, Shangri-La doesn’t just sell products—it also empowers. Every visit includes the opportunity for education, with trained “Wellness Guides” who provide personalized consultations tailored to individual health needs and preferences.

In addition, Shangri-La hosts regular workshops and wellness events on topics like microdosing, sleep support, and managing anxiety through cannabis. These initiatives help reduce stigma and promote responsible use across all demographics.

Community Support at the Core Deeply committed to social impact, Shangri-La reinvests in the communities it serves. Through charitable contributions, advocacy work, and partnerships with local organizations, they’ve become more than just another name among Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio—they’ve become a force for good.

Their social equity programs support aspiring entrepreneurs in underserved communities, and their dedication to veteran health, addiction recovery, and cannabis research reflect a mission rooted in compassion.

Technology That Enhances, Not Replaces In an age of digital convenience, Shangri-La offers a robust online experience that allows users to explore products, place orders, and manage their cannabis journey with ease. Their mobile app brings exclusive deals, loyalty rewards, and product recommendations straight to your fingertips.

Still, unlike many tech-heavy Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio, Shangri-La doesn’t lose sight of the human connection. In-person guidance is always available, ensuring every customer feels seen, heard, and supported.

The Road Ahead As the cannabis market in Ohio continues to expand, Shangri-La is setting a visionary course. With more locations on the horizon and a growing commitment to sustainability, education, and wellness, they’re not just keeping up with the future of cannabis—they’re defining it.

For anyone exploring Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio, Shangri-La offers a unique blend of innovation, integrity, and community care—making it more than just a place to shop, but a place to grow and thrive.

#Cannabis Dispensaries in Ohio #Youtube

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technicallylovingcomputer · 25 days ago

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Top Use Cases of AR in Real-World Applications

Augmented Reality (AR) has evolved from a futuristic concept to a powerful technology reshaping how we interact with the world around us. Unlike virtual reality that creates entirely new environments, AR overlays digital information onto our real-world view, creating immersive experiences that blend the physical and digital realms seamlessly.

From healthcare to retail, AR development has unlocked countless possibilities that were once confined to science fiction. Let's explore the most impactful real-world applications of AR technology and discover how businesses across various industries are leveraging this innovation to enhance user experiences and drive growth.

Healthcare: Revolutionizing Medical Training and Patient Care

The healthcare industry has embraced AR technology with remarkable results. Surgeons now use AR-powered visualization tools to overlay critical patient data directly onto their field of view during complex procedures. This real-time information access allows for more precise operations and better patient outcomes.

Medical training has also been transformed through AR applications. Students can now practice procedures on virtual patients, examining 3D anatomical models that appear to float in real space. This hands-on approach to learning accelerates skill development while reducing the need for cadavers and expensive equipment.

AR development in healthcare extends to patient rehabilitation as well. Physical therapy sessions now incorporate interactive AR exercises that make recovery more engaging and trackable, helping patients stay motivated throughout their healing journey.

Retail and E-commerce: Try Before You Buy

The retail sector has witnessed one of the most consumer-facing implementations of AR technology. Virtual try-on experiences have revolutionized online shopping, allowing customers to see how clothes, accessories, or makeup will look on them before making a purchase.

Furniture retailers like IKEA have pioneered AR applications that let customers visualize how pieces will look in their actual living spaces. This technology has significantly reduced return rates and increased customer satisfaction by bridging the gap between online browsing and in-store experiences.

Beauty brands have also invested heavily in AR development, creating virtual makeup tools that help customers experiment with different looks from the comfort of their homes. These applications have proven especially valuable during times when physical store visits were limited.

Education: Making Learning Interactive and Engaging

Educational institutions are leveraging AR to create immersive learning experiences that capture students' attention like never before. History lessons come alive when students can walk through ancient Rome or witness historical events unfold in their classroom.

Science education has particularly benefited from AR applications. Students can now manipulate 3D molecular structures, explore the human circulatory system, or observe celestial bodies up close. This visual and interactive approach to learning helps students grasp complex concepts more effectively than traditional textbook methods.

Language learning apps have incorporated AR features that translate text in real-time through smartphone cameras, making foreign language acquisition more practical and contextual.

Manufacturing and Industrial Applications

The manufacturing sector has embraced AR development to streamline operations and improve worker efficiency. Assembly line workers can now access step-by-step instructions overlaid directly onto their work area, reducing errors and speeding up production processes.

Maintenance and repair operations have been transformed through AR-guided procedures. Technicians can see exactly which components need attention, access repair manuals hands-free, and receive remote assistance from experts who can see what they're seeing through AR-enabled devices.

Quality control processes have also benefited from AR technology, with inspectors able to compare products against digital specifications in real-time, ensuring higher accuracy and consistency.

Real Estate: Virtual Property Tours and Visualization

The real estate industry has found innovative ways to implement AR technology, particularly in property visualization and marketing. Potential buyers can now tour properties remotely, visualizing renovations or furniture placement before making decisions.

Architects and developers use AR applications to show clients how proposed buildings will look in their actual environments. This capability has proven invaluable for city planning and gaining community approval for new developments.

Real estate agents equipped with AR tools can provide enhanced property tours, overlaying information about utilities, property history, and neighborhood amenities directly onto their clients' view of the space.

Gaming and Entertainment: Beyond Pokemon GO

While Pokemon GO introduced millions to AR gaming, the entertainment industry has continued pushing boundaries with more sophisticated applications. Location-based AR games now create city-wide treasure hunts and interactive storytelling experiences that blend digital narratives with real-world exploration.

Theme parks and museums have integrated AR features into their attractions, creating personalized experiences that adapt to visitor preferences and enhance traditional exhibits with digital information and interactive elements.

Live events and concerts now incorporate AR elements that audience members can access through their devices, adding layers of visual effects and information to enhance the overall experience.

Marketing and Advertising: Creating Memorable Brand Experiences

Brands have discovered that AR development offers unique opportunities to create memorable marketing campaigns. Interactive advertisements allow consumers to engage with products in ways that traditional media cannot match.

QR codes and AR markers in print advertisements now trigger immersive brand experiences, while social media filters have become powerful tools for viral marketing campaigns that encourage user-generated content.

The Future of AR Development

As AR technology continues advancing, we can expect even more innovative applications across industries. Improved hardware capabilities, faster processing speeds, and more sophisticated software development tools are making AR experiences more accessible and compelling.

The integration of artificial intelligence with AR development is opening new possibilities for context-aware applications that can understand and respond to user environments more intelligently.

Conclusion

Augmented Reality has moved far beyond experimental technology to become a practical tool driving real business value across numerous industries. From enhancing medical procedures to revolutionizing retail experiences, AR development continues creating new possibilities for human-computer interaction.

As businesses recognize the competitive advantages that AR technology offers, investment in AR development will likely accelerate, leading to even more innovative applications that we can only imagine today. The question isn't whether AR will continue transforming industries, but rather which sector will discover the next breakthrough application that changes everything.

#vr games #game #unity game development #blockchain #metaverse #nft #multiplayer games #gaming #mobile game development

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gibbearish · 1 year ago

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with my last post that reminds me it's been a while since i told people about solace so this is your daily reminder that if you are trans and live in the united states you should consider downloading solace

it's an app that walks you through the transition process in as much or as little detail and has a bunch of other helpful things too, for instance name testing:

multiple pronouns options and customizable language options:

notifications:

and the main perk, being able to set and track transition goals:

you pick as many goals as you want from a big big list sectioned off between legal, social, and medical goals, and you can then open up the goals and each one will walk you through the process of getting there in a ridiculous amount of detail. it also lets you mark goals as complete (that's why binding is yellow) as well as unmark and remark them as many times as you want in case things change.

it used (?) to have a link to the map of every informed consent clinic in the united states, i can't find it at the moment though and i very much hope thats just me being bad at searching and they didn't have to remove it for some reason.

one thing i will mention is that the goals offered are determined by the pronouns you pick, so if you select he/him you'll be offered masculinizing options, she/her feminizing, and they/them or custom are offered both, which. isn't Great, but given how good the rest of the app is i think they get a pass, especially because they've been actively updating it the whole time i've had it. initially you were unable to update your name at all and they had a note in that section being like "we're sorry we're sorry we know not being able to update your name is like the polar opposite of helpful for trans people its just that coding is hellfire and technology is evil and its been actively resisting letting us do that, we're working on it as we speak sorry again" and now you can bounce it back and forth as many times as you want, so it is still being improved as far as i know.

but yeah, if you're trans and in the us, this app can be really really helpful as a starting point for a bunch of different things, definitely recommend 👍

#trans #origibberish #im sorry for lack of alt text my brain just Will Not Let Me #long post

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whattheydonttellyouytc · 8 months ago

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"What They Dont Want You To Know"Series

1. Corporate Influence on Legislation

Large corporations wield significant power in shaping laws and regulations through lobbying efforts. This influence often prioritizes profit over public interest, resulting in legislation that favors corporate agendas, such as tax breaks, deregulation, or loopholes that allow environmental harm. For example, the oil and gas industry has been known to lobby against stricter environmental protections, impacting climate policy and public health.

2. Food Industry Secrets

The food industry often obscures the truth about what goes into our food. Many products contain additives and preservatives that can affect health, yet these ingredients are not always clearly labeled. Additionally, practices such as factory farming raise concerns about animal welfare and antibiotic use, which can lead to antibiotic resistance. Understanding these secrets can empower consumers to make informed choices about their diets.

3. Environmental Degradation

While the impacts of climate change are widely discussed, the specific practices contributing to environmental degradation often receive less attention. Industries like mining and logging can devastate ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and habitat destruction. Moreover, the pollution from industrial activities can have dire consequences for local communities, particularly in marginalized areas, where regulations may be less stringent.

4. Data Privacy and Surveillance

As technology advances, the collection and use of personal data have become ubiquitous. Many people are unaware of how much information they share through social media, apps, and online transactions. This data can be sold or misused, leading to targeted advertising, identity theft, and breaches of privacy. Understanding these practices is crucial for protecting personal information in an increasingly digital world.

5. Mental Health Stigmas

Despite growing awareness of mental health issues, significant stigma remains, often fueled by societal norms and media portrayals. Many individuals suffer in silence due to fear of judgment or discrimination, which can prevent them from seeking help. Additionally, access to mental health services is often limited, particularly in low-income communities, highlighting the need for greater support and understanding.

6. Wealth Inequality

The gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, fueled by systemic issues such as tax policies that favor the wealthy, inadequate wages for essential workers, and unequal access to education and healthcare. This growing inequality can lead to social unrest and economic instability. Understanding the underlying factors can motivate individuals to advocate for more equitable policies.

7. Pharmaceutical Industry Practices

The pharmaceutical industry is often criticized for its pricing strategies and marketing tactics, which can prioritize profit over patient care. Many essential medications are prohibitively expensive, leading to preventable health crises. Additionally, alternative treatments or generics may be overlooked in favor of branded drugs due to marketing influence, raising questions about healthcare accessibility.

8. Climate Change Denial

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, climate change denial persists, often driven by financial interests in fossil fuels. This denial can hinder global efforts to combat climate change, as policy changes are delayed or blocked. Understanding the motivations behind this denial can help individuals advocate for more proactive climate policies and support sustainable practices.

9. Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation refers to the adoption of elements of one culture by another, often without understanding or respecting their significance. This practice can exploit marginalized cultures while commodifying their traditions. For example, fashion brands may use indigenous designs without crediting the original creators, highlighting the need for awareness and sensitivity in cultural exchanges.

10. Energy Solutions

While renewable energy sources like solar and wind power have the potential to transform our energy landscape, they are often overshadowed by the fossil fuel industry. Many innovative technologies, such as energy storage and smart grids, could disrupt traditional energy markets. Raising awareness of these alternatives is essential for promoting sustainable energy policies and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

#government #truth #energy #culture #climate change #big pharma #wealth #mental health #data #evironment #food #corporation details

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innonurse · 9 months ago

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Mark your calendar for these health tech conferences in 2024-2025

- By InnoNurse Staff -

Interested in health technology-related events for fall 2024 and 2025? Fierce Healthcare has compiled a list of key conferences, both virtual and in-person, scheduled for the upcoming seasons.

Read more at Fierce Healthcare

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Other recent news and insights

Lapsi transforms the stethoscope into a health tracking data platform (TechCrunch)

UK: The Department of Health and Social Care set to review clinical risk standards for digital health technologies (Digital Health)

AI-based cancer test determines if chemotherapy is needed (The Financial Express)

New tool enhances microscopic imaging by eliminating motion artifacts (UC Berkeley/Tech Xplore)

Researchers integrate a fast optical coherence tomography system into neurosurgical microscopes (Optica)

AI model achieves clinical-expert-level accuracy in complex medical scans (UCLA/Medical Xpress)

Bioinformatics reveals the hidden prevalence of repeat expansion disorders (Queen Mary University of London/Medical Xpress)

Ultrasound detects 96% of ovarian cancers in postmenopausal women (University of Birmingham)

AI ‘liquid biopsies’ using cell-free DNA and protein biomarkers could improve early ovarian cancer detection (Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures)

Mammograms show potential for detecting heart disease (UC San Diego/Medical Xpress)

IMRT and proton therapy provide similar quality of life and tumor control for prostate cancer patients (American Society for Radiation Oncology/Medical Xpress)

Machine learning enhances MRI video quality (Graz University of Technology/Medical Xpress)

Robotic surgery for colorectal cancer reduces pain and accelerates recovery (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center)

Global human brain mapping project releases its first data set (Allen Institute)

AI could speed up PCR tests, aiding faster DNA diagnostics and forensics (Flinders University/Medical Xpress)

AI-powered apps may detect depression through eye snapshots (Stevens Institute of Technology/Medical Xpress)

#events #health tech #digital health #medtech #biotech #health informatics #data science #neuroscience #imaging #radiology #diagnostics #ai #robotics #cancer #lapsi #government #uk

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mariacallous · 16 days ago

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To hear some of them tell it, the companies selling continuous glucose monitors have stumbled upon a heretofore unknown quirk of human biology. Seemingly healthy people, many of these companies argue, have “glucose imbalances” that need to be monitored and, with dietary vigilance, eradicated. Millions of people are going through life eating bananas, not knowing that their blood sugar is rising with every bite. This must be stopped.

To this end, the companies market the continuous glucose monitor, or CGM, a quarter-size sensor that takes a near-constant measure of the glucose in the fluid between a person’s cells. Once inserted into an arm, the sensor allows the wearer to monitor their blood-sugar levels on a phone app for $80 to $184 a month. Doing so allows you to “see the impact of what you eat” (according to the company that sells Lingo), to “motivate behavior change and encourage healthier choices” (according to Levels), and to “personalize your approach” to weight loss, because “everyone’s journey is different” (according to Nutrisense).

The gadgets have been revolutionary for many people with diabetes—previously the main available device for measuring blood sugar required users to prick their fingers multiple times a day. Many insurers cover CGM prescriptions for diabetics; they can pick up the devices at the pharmacy just as they would blood-test strips. But when I asked a half dozen experts whether people who don’t have diabetes should wear CGMs, I got a resounding “Meh.” “It’s a free country. People can pay money for whatever they feel like doing,” David Nathan, a diabetes expert at Harvard, told me. “But from a medical point of view, I am personally unconvinced that they lead to any health benefit.”

Relying on a Harvard diabetes expert to give you diabetes advice, however, goes against the general ethos of the “Make America Healthy Again” movement, many of whose members have been heavily promoting CGMs in recent months, including to people who don’t have diabetes. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of Health and Human Services, talked them up in an April CBS interview as “extraordinarily effective in helping people lose weight and avoid diabetes.” At his Senate confirmation hearing, before becoming Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Marty Makary said glucose monitors help people “learn about what they’re eating.” Casey Means, the wellness influencer whom President Donald Trump nominated for surgeon general, has said that more Americans should use CGMs too. (As it happens, she is a co-founder of Levels.) “I believe CGM is the most powerful technology for generating the data and awareness to rectify our Bad Energy crisis in the Western world,” Means wrote in her best-selling book, Good Energy. (Bad Energy is her term for the metabolic dysfunction that she believes to be at the root of many chronic health problems.)

The devices are emblematic of the self-reliance that characterizes the MAHA movement. “The Casey Means’s of the world,” Alan Levinovitz, a James Madison University religion professor who has studied alternative health, told me in an email, “are using the rhetoric of naturalness as a way of telling people they can have complete control and expertise over their own health—which is the natural way to be healthy, rather than outsourcing that wisdom to top-down elites.” Indeed, one of the chapters of Good Energy is titled “Trust Yourself, Not Your Doctor.” (Means did not respond to a request for comment.)

CGMs appear to have trickled into MAHA world from the Joe Roganosphere, helped along by the fact that the devices, which in the past had been prescribed mainly to diabetics, were made available last year for purchase over the counter—that is, by anyone. Five years ago, Paul Saladino, a doctor who promotes an “animal-based diet,” said on Rogan’s podcast, “This is the kind of stuff that really tells you about your metabolic health. There’s no way to lie with a continuous glucose monitor.” Since then, CGMs have been endorsed on popular wellness podcasts such as Andrew Huberman’s Huberman Lab and Dave Asprey’s The Human Upgrade, and by pop-health doctors such as Peter Attia and Mark Hyman, the latter of whom called the CGM “a gadget that has completely changed my life.” A wellness influencer known as the Glucose Goddess said that although they may not be for everyone, CGMs can be “a pretty incredible tool to start to connect what you’re eating with what’s actually happening inside of your body,” and offers a guide to them on her website. Gwyneth Paltrow, the empress of Goop, was recently spotted wearing one.

Sun Kim, a Stanford endocrinologist, told me that a few years ago, “I was literally contacted by a start-up almost every month who wanted to incorporate a CGM” into their products. Of course, some CGM companies do specialize in people who have diabetes and need around-the-clock monitoring. But Kim and others I spoke with told me they suspect that, to boost sales, CGM manufacturers are trying to expand their potential-customer base beyond people living with diabetes to the merely sugar-curious.

Jake Leach, the president of Dexcom, maker of the over-the-counter CGM Stelo, told me via email, “Stelo was originally designed for people who have Type 2 diabetes not using insulin and those with prediabetes, however, given the broad accessibility of this device, we are encouraged to see people without diabetes interested in learning more about their glucose and metabolic health.” A spokesperson for Dexcom pointed out to me that most people with prediabetes are undiagnosed. Fred St. Goar, a cardiologist and clinical adviser for Lingo, told me in a statement that CGMs can be beneficial for nondiabetics because “understanding your body’s glucose is key to managing your metabolism, so you can live healthier and better.”

Scant research exists on how many nondiabetic people are buying CGMs, but anecdotally, some providers told me that they are seeing an uptick. Nicola Guess, a University of Oxford dietitian and researcher, said that “10 years ago, no, I never saw anyone without diabetes with a CGM. And now I see lots.” Mostly, she said, they’re people who are already pretty healthy. In this sense, CGMs are an extension of the wearables craze: Once you have an Oura Ring and a fitness tracker, measuring your blood sugar can feel like the next logical step of the “journey.”

Should people who aren’t diabetic wear one of these? Health fanatics who have $80 a month to burn and want to see how various foods affect their blood sugar are probably fine to wear a CGM, at least for a little while. Spoiler: The readout is probably just going to show that eating refined carbs—such as white bread, pasta, and sweets—at least temporarily raises blood sugar to some degree.

Normal glucose patterns for nondiabetic people tend to vary quite a bit from meal to meal and day to day. Most nondiabetics’ blood-sugar readings will typically fall within the “normal” range of 70 to 140 milligrams per deciliter. But many healthy people will occasionally see spikes above 140, and scientists don’t really know if that’s a cause for concern. (“Great question” is a response I heard a lot when I asked.) In the studies he’s worked on, Kevin D. Hall, a former National Institutes of Health nutrition scientist, has found that even in tightly controlled settings, people’s blood-sugar levels respond very differently to the same meal when eaten on different occasions. Given all these natural deviations, a CGM may not be able to tell you anything especially useful about your health. And CGMs can be less accurate than other types of blood-sugar tests. In another study, Hall and his co-authors stuck two different brands of CGM on the same person, and at times, they provided two different blood-sugar readings. The conclusion, to Hall, was that more research is needed before CGMs can be recommended to nondiabetics.

What’s more, blood sugar depends on sleep, stress, and exercise levels, and whether any given meal includes protein or fat. If you notice a spike after eating a banana, the banana might not be the reason. It might be the four hours of sleep you got the previous night, because sleep deprivation can affect the hormones that influence blood sugar. As a result, Guess said, “a CGM cannot tell you whether a single food is right for you”—though some CGM enthusiasts make this promise. (A CGM can help you “learn your reaction to individual foods and meals,” Means has written.)

For some people, tracking data does help nudge them toward healthier behaviors. If you get a clear readout from a CGM that your blood sugar has risen after you’ve eaten refined carbs, and it moves you to eat fewer refined carbs, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But researchers haven’t found evidence yet that nondiabetic people eat better after wearing a CGM. And if you know how to read a CGM, you probably already know what a healthy diet looks like. You could just eat it. Anne Peters, a diabetes researcher at the University of Southern California, told me, “You could just not wear it at all and tell yourself to eat more vegetables and a more plant-based diet and eat healthy, lean protein.”

Many of the biohackers who talk up CGMs also promote a low-carb, protein-heavy diet that would include a T-bone more readily than a Triscuit. (Asprey, the man behind The Human Upgrade, recommends putting butter in coffee.) The potential downside of glucose monitoring is that people who are (perhaps needlessly) alarmed by their CGM data will swap out healthy carbs such as fruit and whole grains for foods that are less healthy—butter, for example, or bacon and red meat. Those foods don’t make an impact on blood sugar, but they can affect other markers of health, such as cholesterol and body fat. Eat a stick of butter, and your CGM will probably show a flat, pleasant line. But your arteries may protest.

I noticed these perverse incentives myself during my pregnancy, when I had gestational diabetes and wore a CGM to manage my blood sugar. A bowl of heart-healthy oatmeal would cause my blood-sugar reading to soar to an unacceptable 157, but a piece of cheesecake—with loads of fat balancing out the sugar—would keep it safely under my goal level of 135. At the time, I wanted to eat whatever kept my blood sugar low, for the sake of my baby. But few dietitians would advise healthy people to eat cheesecake instead of oatmeal every morning.

Glucose, after all, is just a small part of the picture of human health. “Waist circumference, blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, resting heart rate—they are much better measures of how healthy someone is than glucose,” Guess said. And watching a real-time readout of your blood glucose can become an obsession of sorts—not an entirely harmless one. “Something being a waste of time is a net harm,” Guess told me. “There is something unethical to me about filling people’s heads with worries that never come to pass.”

Many of the researchers I spoke with said that if you are concerned you might have diabetes or prediabetes, you could just get an A1c blood test at your annual physical. Like a CGM, it, too, measures blood sugar, but much more cheaply and without requiring you to wear a device all the time. And if it shows that you’re at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, you could do what doctors have suggested doing for decades now: Eat a diet rich in vegetables and lean proteins, and get some exercise most days. (“Duh,” Nathan said.)

One way for Kennedy and others in the Trump administration to find out if CGMs do all they say they do would be to fund studies on whether CGMs are helpful, and for whom. Quite the opposite is happening. Hall recently left Trump’s NIH because he believed he was being censored when speaking about the results of studies that conflicted with Kennedy’s views, and Nathan’s diabetes-prevention study was recently frozen by the Trump administration. So far, the administration has ended or delayed nearly 2,500 NIH grants, including some related to researching blood glucose. If the Kennedy-led HHS department truly would like to make America healthy again, it could stop defunding the people studying Americans’ health.

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websneha · 9 months ago

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10 Surprising Stress-Relief Innovations You’ll Need in 2025

Stress and anxiety have become an integral part of modern life, especially in India, where rapid urbanization, high competition, and the digital era have exacerbated mental health challenges. According to a recent survey by the Indian Psychiatry Society, 74% of Indians face stress in their daily lives. As we move into 2025, the ways to manage stress have drastically evolved. These innovative stress-relief techniques go beyond traditional methods and offer effective, science-backed solutions to help you stay calm and focused. Let’s dive into 10 surprising innovations that you’ll need to know to reduce stress and anxiety in 2025.

1. AI-Powered Stress Monitoring Wearables

In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we manage stress. AI-powered wearables such as smartwatches and fitness bands not only track your physical health but also monitor your stress levels in real time. These wearables analyze heart rate variability, body temperature, and sleep patterns to detect signs of stress. They can even provide guided breathing exercises or alert you when it’s time to take a break.

Key Features:

Real-time stress monitoring through biometric data.

Personalized stress management tips based on AI analysis.

Integration with apps to provide breathing exercises, meditation, or calming music.

Indian Market Stats:

According to Statista, the wearable technology market in India is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.6% by 2025, with stress-management wearables becoming more popular.

Popular AI-Powered Wearables:

Fitbit Sense: Equipped with an EDA sensor that tracks your body’s response to stress.

Oura Ring: Tracks body temperature and sleep patterns, helping to manage anxiety.

2. Digital Detox Retreats

In a world dominated by technology, digital detox retreats are emerging as one of the most effective stress-relief techniques in 2025. These retreats allow participants to unplug from technology and focus on mindfulness, nature, and self-care. With the rise of screen time, especially in India where people spend an average of 6-7 hours a day on digital devices, digital detox retreats offer a necessary escape to rejuvenate the mind and body.

Benefits of Digital Detox:

Reduced screen fatigue and improved mental clarity.

Better sleep quality due to disconnection from blue light.

Enhanced emotional well-being through mindfulness activities like yoga and meditation.

Popular Digital Detox Destinations in India:

Ananda in the Himalayas: Offers yoga, meditation, and spa therapies in a serene environment.

SwaSwara Retreat in Gokarna: A perfect place for digital detox combined with Ayurveda and holistic healing.

3. Neurofeedback Therapy

Neurofeedback is a cutting-edge stress-relief technique that uses brainwave monitoring to help individuals regulate their stress responses. In 2025, neurofeedback therapy has become a mainstream option for managing anxiety, particularly in urban areas of India. By training the brain to recognize stressful patterns and shifting brainwave activity, neurofeedback offers long-term stress reduction without medication.

How Neurofeedback Works:

Electrodes are placed on the scalp to monitor brain activity.

The brain is trained to produce desirable brainwave patterns, helping you achieve relaxation.

Sessions are often combined with mindfulness and deep-breathing exercises.

Effectiveness:

Research shows that neurofeedback therapy can reduce symptoms of anxiety by up to 45% over time.

Available in India’s top wellness centers in cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi.

4. Sensory Deprivation Tanks (Floatation Therapy)

Sensory deprivation, also known as floatation therapy, involves lying in a tank filled with saltwater where external stimuli such as light and sound are completely eliminated. This helps your body enter a deep state of relaxation, reducing cortisol levels and promoting mental clarity. Floatation therapy has become increasingly popular in India’s major cities in 2025 as a way to combat the pressures of daily life.

Benefits of Floatation Therapy:

Decreased cortisol levels and stress hormones by up to 20%.

Promotes theta brainwave activity, which is associated with deep relaxation and meditation.

Improved mental focus and reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Where to Try It in India:

1000 Petals in Bengaluru: Offers floatation therapy sessions designed for stress relief.

Mindful Waters in Mumbai: Specializes in sensory deprivation therapy for mental well-being.

5. Cold Exposure Therapy (Cryotherapy)

Cold exposure therapy, or cryotherapy, has emerged as one of the most surprising ways to combat stress and anxiety in 2025. Cryotherapy involves brief exposure to sub-zero temperatures in a controlled environment, stimulating the body’s parasympathetic nervous system. This, in turn, reduces inflammation, boosts endorphins, and helps manage anxiety.

Key Benefits:

Reduces inflammation and muscle tension caused by stress.

Boosts the production of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals.

Enhances mental resilience by improving the body’s response to stress.

Cryotherapy in India:

Leading wellness centers in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru offer cryotherapy sessions.

Cryotherapy is expected to grow rapidly, with a 35% increase in adoption by 2025 as per industry reports.

6. Virtual Reality Meditation

Virtual reality (VR) has made meditation more immersive and effective than ever in 2025. VR meditation apps transport you to peaceful environments like lush forests or serene beaches, making it easier to disconnect from stressful surroundings. These apps combine guided meditation with virtual experiences, making stress management more accessible, even in the bustling cities of India.

Why VR Meditation Works:

Creates a fully immersive experience, helping you detach from daily stressors.

Guided meditation programs are tailored to reduce anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion.

Ideal for those who find traditional meditation challenging or boring.

Popular VR Meditation Apps:

TRIPP: A VR app designed to promote mindfulness and reduce stress.

RelaxVR: Offers calming VR experiences like virtual beaches or mountain views, helping to lower anxiety levels.

7. Biohacking for Stress Relief

Biohacking, a concept focused on optimizing body and mind performance, has taken a new leap in 2025 as a method for stress relief. Techniques such as intermittent fasting, cold showers, and red light therapy are being embraced by individuals seeking to "hack" their stress responses. Biohacking allows you to gain control over how your body reacts to stress, improving both mental and physical health.

Popular Biohacking Techniques for Stress:

Cold Showers: Stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce cortisol production.

Red Light Therapy: Helps lower inflammation and calm the nervous system.

Intermittent Fasting: Promotes mental clarity and enhances stress resilience by balancing hormonal levels.

Indian Biohacking Community Growth:

Biohacking India reported a 40% increase in the number of people practicing biohacking methods in 2025, with stress reduction being a key goal for many participants.

8. Gut Health and Probiotics for Mental Well-Being

The gut-brain connection is now well-established, and 2025 has seen the rise of nutritional psychiatry in India. Probiotics, specifically designed to improve gut health, have been shown to reduce anxiety by promoting the production of serotonin, a key mood-regulating hormone. Incorporating probiotics and prebiotics into your diet can be a natural way to manage stress and anxiety.

Key Foods for Stress Reduction:

Curd (Dahi): Rich in probiotics, which help balance gut bacteria and improve mood.

Fermented Foods: Include pickles, idli, and dosa for natural probiotics.

Asafoetida (Hing): Known to improve gut health, which can directly influence mental well-being.

Stats:

According to a 2024 study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), individuals who included probiotics in their diet experienced a 30% decrease in anxiety levels after three months.

9. Breathwork with Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Training

Breathwork has been a traditional Indian practice for centuries, but in 2025, it’s getting a modern upgrade with heart rate variability (HRV) training. HRV is the measurement of the time interval between heartbeats, and it’s a powerful indicator of stress levels. With the help of technology, you can now practice controlled breathing to improve your HRV, thereby reducing anxiety and stress.

How HRV Breathwork Works:

Apps or wearables measure your HRV and guide you through specific breathing exercises to optimize your heart rate.

Increased HRV is linked to better mental health, lower stress, and improved resilience to anxiety.

Popular HRV Devices:

HeartMath Inner Balance: A device that measures HRV and offers personalized breathing exercises.

Garmin Smartwatches: Equipped with HRV tracking and breathing exercises for stress management.

10. Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku)

In 2025, forest bathing, or Shinrin-Yoku, has become a popular stress-relief technique in India. Originally a Japanese practice, forest bathing involves immersing yourself in nature, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of a forest environment. The benefits of spending time in nature are well-documented, with forest

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