
Zinc: What it does for the body, and the best food sources

Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help

Tips to leverage neuroplasticity to maintain cognitive fitness as you age

Can white noise really help you sleep better?

Celiac disease: Exploring four myths

What is prostatitis and how is it treated?

What is Cushing syndrome?

Exercises to relieve joint pain

Think your child has ADHD? What your pediatrician can do

Foam roller: Could you benefit from this massage tool?
Medical Devices & Technology Archive
Articles
Web-based app helps people accurately assess need for statin
Using a Web-based app, most people can correctly assess their need for a cholesterol-lowering statin and take the drug appropriately with good results, according to a 2024 study. If approved, the app could facilitate statin use without a doctor's prescription.
A personalized program to heal your heart
Cardiac rehabilitation, a personalized program of supervised exercise and heart-healthy lifestyle coaching, helps people recover from heart-related problems, including stable angina, heart attack, heart surgery, and stable heart failure. A 12-week program helps people regain their stamina, enabling them to resume their favorite activities, and may also lessen stress and depression. Cardiac rehab is also proven to lower the risk of future heart-related illness and hospitalization and may help people live longer.
Device of the month: Home blood pressure monitor
When choosing a home blood pressure monitor, people should select one that has an easy-to-read display and a well-fitting upper arm cuff that inflates automatically. It should appear on the U.S. Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing.
FDA warns against using these smart gadgets to measure blood sugar
In 2024, the FDA advised against using smart watches or smart rings that claim to monitor blood sugar without piercing the skin. Using them, the FDA warned, could result in inaccurate blood sugar measurements, which is dangerous for people with diabetes.
Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for type 2 diabetes: When and for whom are they useful?
Continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, offer valuable and accurate insights into blood sugar levels. But it's important to understand who CGMs are most appropriate for.
Smartphone-based mall walking program may boost step counts
A 2024 study found that a smartphone-based mall walking program may motivate people—especially women and older adults—to walk more.
Device of the month: Body-weight scale
Compared with analog scales, digital scales are more accurate and easier to read. Many smart scales include added features such as smartphone connectivity and body composition estimates.
Bad bedfellows
The use of sleep tracking devices is increasing, but using a sleep tracker can contribute to anxiety and insomnia. Data from the device can influence how a person feels after awakening, even if the data aren't accurate. Sleep trackers can make people more aware of their sleep patterns and potentially help identify sleep disorders, but the data generated can be confusing and lead people to ignore how they feel after sleeping. A special form of cognitive behavioral therapy called CBTi is designed to improve insomnia and anxiety around sleep.
CPAP machines and masks: Which ones are right for you?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a first-line treatment for people with obstructive sleep apnea. The CPAP keeps the airway open by pushing a forceful stream of air through a tube and into a mask worn during sleep. The air comes from a small bedside pump (an air compressor). Other forms of positive airway pressure (PAP) may be helpful for people with central sleep apnea. Doctors determine which type of PAP therapy and device someone needs. Patients select the type of PAP mask to use with the system.
The latest in medical alert systems
Some medical alert systems now have advanced technology that integrates monitoring services with a smartphone, smart watch, or smart speaker. The services aren't cheap. They range from $20 to $50 per month, depending on the company and any additional services (such as fall detection). There may also be fees for activation and equipment (up to a few hundred dollars). The alternative is getting an alert system that isn't monitored, such as free "panic button" apps for smartphones or a smart watch that can notify relatives in an emergency.

Zinc: What it does for the body, and the best food sources

Respiratory health harms often follow flooding: Taking these steps can help

Tips to leverage neuroplasticity to maintain cognitive fitness as you age

Can white noise really help you sleep better?

Celiac disease: Exploring four myths

What is prostatitis and how is it treated?

What is Cushing syndrome?

Exercises to relieve joint pain

Think your child has ADHD? What your pediatrician can do

Foam roller: Could you benefit from this massage tool?
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