Alexis Kestler
Hey there! Massive technical advancements in the healthcare sector are rapidly shifting towards health wearables and health checking devices. As a technology geek myself, I definitely understand how modern technological conveniences can contribute to more sedentary lifestyles. However, we can also use technology wisely to improve our health and fitness.
Intelligent health wearables and checking devices are game-changers, empowering us with real-time insights into our health so we can make positive changes. I want to walk you through some of the most revolutionary health tech out there today that can help us take control of our fitness and lead more active, healthy lives. Let‘s dive in!
How Can Health Wearables Motivate Us?
I‘m sure you‘ve experienced those moments when someone points out you‘re looking out of shape, and suddenly you feel motivated to get fit and make changes. Health wearables and checking devices provide that constant reminder by displaying our key health stats, keeping us accountable.
Just look at the growth of the wearable tech industry – analysts predict it will be worth nearly $30 billion by 2026 as demand grows for smartwatches, fitness trackers and medical devices that monitor our health 24/7 [1]. I know from personal experience how motivating it is to see real-time feedback on steps, heart rate, sleep etc. It gives us the push we need to get off the couch and get moving.
Now we can check blood oxygen, heart rate, calories burned and much more anytime without a doctor‘s visit. Cutting-edge health tech lets us take health into our own hands. Next, let‘s explore some pioneers in this space bringing us revolutionary devices to optimize our fitness.
Withings – Style Meets Health Tracking
Withings stands out by blending advanced health tracking into fashionable, user-friendly products like hybrid smartwatches, scales, blood pressure monitors and sleep analyzers. Their devices make it effortless to stay on top of our health. Here are some of their winning products:
Steel HR Smartwatch – Sleek Multitasking
Withings‘ Steel HR smartwatch combines an analog watch face with OLED display and advanced activity tracking. It‘s perfect if you want a device that‘s stylish for work as well as high-tech for optimizing your health 24/7.
It provides notifications, heart rate monitoring, VO2 max estimation for cardio fitness and built-in GPS for tracking runs and walks. The sleep tracking is excellent, showing light, deep and REM sleep phases [2].
I love how it lasts up to 25 days on a single charge – you can wear it day and night without constantly recharging. It‘s water resistant up to 50 meters too, so you can swim and shower with it on.
Overall, the Steel HR blends an analog watch‘s style with cutting-edge health tracking in a slim, comfy and durable design. It gives you an amazing array of insights into your activity, sleep and overall health every day.
ScanWatch – Advanced Health Monitoring
The ScanWatch takes health tracking to the next level as the first smartwatch to include an ECG and oximeter. These provide deeper insights into your cardiovascular health. You get notifications, activity/sleep tracking, plus:
-
ECG: Take a medical-grade electrocardiogram by placing your fingers on the watch‘s bezel. It detects irregular heart rhythm like atrial fibrillation (AFib).
-
Oximeter: Measures oxygen saturation in your blood, important for detecting issues like sleep apnea.
It also calculates your fitness level based on VO2 max and activity tracking. The robust companion app Health Mate lets you access trends over time.
| Sensor | Use |
|---|---|
| Heart rate | Track intensity during workouts and overall health |
| Oximeter | Measures oxygen levels to detect issues |
| ECG | Checks for irregular heart rhythms |
| Accelerometer | Counts steps and tracks activity |
| Altimeter | Measures floors climbed |
| Gyroscope | More accurate activity tracking |
It packs advanced health tech into a stylish watch with 30 day battery life. I love how it empowers us with vital insights like early detection of heart issues [4]. We can better understand our cardiovascular health and make improvements.
Body+ Scale – Complete Weight Analysis
While basic scales only tell weight, Body+ provides a full body composition breakdown including BMI, bone/muscle mass and more. It syncs stats straight to the intuitive Health Mate app.
The scale actually maps your body using multi-frequency sensors to precisely track composition over time [5]. It lets you set weight goals and monitor nutrition too.
I love the family-friendly design – it recognizes up to 8 users automatically! It provides personalized tracking for the whole household.
Overall Withings is one of my favorite health tech brands for its balance of easy-to-use devices with advanced tracking and sleek style. The whole product ecosystem helps us monitor overall wellness 24/7.
Qardio – Medical-Grade Health Monitoring
While many health wearables look stylish but lack robust tracking, Qardio‘s devices offer medical-grade monitoring trusted by healthcare pros. Their award-winning products include ECG monitors, blood pressure cuffs and smart scales.
Qardio aims to provide convenient at-home health tracking that yields insights as accurate as a doctor‘s office. Let‘s check out two of their most revolutionary products:
QardioCore ECG/EKG Monitor
This compact wearable monitor delivers continuous electrocardiogram tracking, a first for a consumer wearable. The medical-grade ECG detection provides deep insights into your heart health and fitness.
It‘s easy to use without any wires, patches or gels. Just attach the device to your chest and it monitors your heart rate, respiration, skin temperature and more 24/7.
The Qardio app displays your live ECG readings and tracks changes over time. It can help detect issues like arrhythmia early. Studies show its ECG detection is comparable to 12-lead analysis at a cardiologist‘s office [6].
I love having access to medical-grade heart health insights right on my wearable without visiting a doctor!
QardioArm Blood Pressure Monitor
High blood pressure affects 1 in 3 adults globally, but most don‘t regularly monitor it [7]. QardioArm provides seamless at-home tracking by automatically taking measurements and syncing them to your phone.
It detects irregular heartbeat during readings and can share your trends with your doctor. The cuff inflates automatically – just strap it on and you get precise, clinically-validated results every time.
Between the ECG and blood pressure monitoring, Qardio makes vital heart health tracking accessible in our everyday lives. It allows us to detect issues early and make important lifestyle improvements.
FitTrack – Body Composition Testing
While health wearables provide great day-to-day insights, it‘s also important to get detailed body composition assessments. FitTrack offers advanced testing that exposes crucial health insights we can‘t detect on our own.
DEXA Body Composition Scan
The DEXA scan uses dual x-ray technology to measure body fat percentage, lean muscle mass, bone density and fat distribution [8]. This allows early detection of risks like osteoporosis.
You get measurements of specific areas like trunk, arms and legs. It shows visceral fat around organs, important because excess visceral fat increases risk of chronic illnesses [9]. It provides insights we just can‘t get from a weigh scale or smartwatch.
RMR Metabolic Testing
Knowing your resting metabolic rate (RMR) – the energy your body burns at rest – is key for effective weight management. RMR testing accurately measures this based on your oxygen usage at rest.
It provides your total daily calorie needs based on your body composition and goals like weight loss, gain or maintenance [10]. You also receive your carbohydrate vs. fat burning ratio.
These insights allow nutritionists to craft a diet and exercise plan tailored to your metabolism and health goals. RMR testing empowers us to meet goals based on our unique body chemistry.
Though not cheap, FitTrack‘s clinical-grade testing yields incredibly detailed insights into what‘s going on inside our bodies. It exposes risks we can then mitigate through lifestyle changes.
Tanita – Precision Health Monitoring
For decades, Tanita has engineered high-precision body composition monitors used by professionals. Their at-home scales bring unparalleled accuracy powered by years of clinical research.
BC-1500 Scale – Professional-Grade Tracking
This scale leverages multi-frequency bioimpedance analysis (BIA) used in medical settings to analyze 30 body metrics with unrivaled accuracy.
It measures weight, BMI, body fat percentage, muscle and bone mass, basal metabolic rate, visceral fat rating and more [11]. The free app lets you monitor trends over time.
Where most consumer scales have error rates around 5%, Tanita‘s are accurate to 0.1 kilograms due to their multi-frequency sensors [12]. Their research-backed precision helps us monitor body composition and set data-driven fitness goals.
AM-121 Activity Tracker
In addition to body composition, the AM-121 provides a complete picture of your daily movement. It tracks steps, distance, calories burned and activity intensity using 3-axis accelerometers [13].
It calculates your METs (metabolic activity level) and total calories burned based on your basal metabolic rate for that day. The 14-day memory lets you monitor activity trends over time.
Wearable activity trackers have error rates around 10-15% [14]. With its research-grade accelerometers, the AM-121 provides precision activity tracking to complement Tanita‘s body composition insights.
Tanita is the gold standard for accurate, research-backed body and health monitoring. Their devices provide unmatched precision to optimize our fitness.
Eufy – Affordable Whole-Family Tracking
Many health tech devices carry premium price tags, but Eufy offers budget-friendly products packed with handy wellness tracking features. Their Smart Scale P1 makes body composition analysis affordable and easy to use.
It measures 14 body metrics including weight, BMI, body fat and muscle percentage, bone mass, basal metabolic rate, visceral fat and more [15]. The convenient app syncing works with Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit to track trends.
At under $50, it‘s very affordable but doesn‘t skimp on features. The scale recognizes up to 16 users, so the whole family can track their fitness. Eufy makes vital health insights accessible at home for less.
Fitbit – Fitness Tracking for Every Body
Chances are you‘ve heard of Fitbit, the pioneer fitness tracker brand. Their versatile products empower beginners through athletes with personalized health insights. Two of their latest devices showcase the brand‘s continued innovation.
Fitbit Sense – Your Body‘s Early Warning System
The Sense takes health tracking to new heights with sensors that reveal insights about your body‘s stress levels, heart health and skin temperature.
Key features:
- EDA scan: Measures electrodermal activity for stress level trends [16].
- ECG app: Checks heart rhythm for signs of atrial fibrillation [17].
- Skin temp sensor: Shows variations that could indicate illness/fatigue.
Plus you get sleep tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, workout features and 6-day battery life [18]. This power-packed watch helps you tune into your body for a healthier life.
Fitbit Charge 5 – Next Gen Activity Tracking
With a bright AMOLED display, 7-day battery life and lightweight design, the Charge 5 packs enhanced tracking into a comfortable form.
It includes:
- Built-in GPS: More precise activity tracking
- Heart health tools: Heart rate, rhythm & oxygen monitoring
- Sleep analysis: Sleep score plus apnea detection
- Stress management: EDA sensor tracks stress response [19]
I love how Fitbit‘s devices take fitness tracking to the next level with sensors that provide a 360-degree view of our health and help us tune into our bodies. Their versatile product lineup has something for every activity level and lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
I hope this breakdown of some of today‘s most revolutionary health wearables gives you a sense of how tech can optimize our fitness when used proactively. Although modern conveniences can encourage sedentary lifestyles, health tech that provides real-time insights empowers us to make positive changes.
The key is picking a device suited for your goals, be it losing weight, improving heart health, optimizing sleep or simply moving more. I encourage you to check out the brands covered here to find a health wearable that motivates you!
Focus on how the instant feedback keeps you on track. Let the data guide you towards establishing healthy habits. With consistent use, a fitness tracker can be a valuable tool for taking charge of your overall well-being.
