6 medical gadgets you can keep at home to keep a tab on your health

If you are feeling unwell then a doctor is the only person you should be taking any form of advice from. However, at a time like this it is important to keep a generic tab on your health so as you can give the doctor some details to help in the diagnosis if it is being done virtually. Here’s a list of medical gadgets you can keep at home.

Given that currently, the medical system in our country is terribly under pressure, it’s helpful to keep tabs on yourself and on your loved ones’ health so as you can help the doctors with some information if and when you need to consult them. (Pixabay)

Right now we are all stuck inside our homes again and the pandemic is raging on. If you or anyone in your family is feeling unwell, it is best to consult a doctor straight away. Given that currently, the medical system in our country is terribly under pressure, it's helpful to keep tabs on yourself and on your loved ones' health so as you can help the doctors with some information if and when you need to consult them. Also, with most consultations happening virtually, if you are able to collect some readings on your own, it helps in the process and the diagnosis.

Now, most houses have a basic thermometer, but there are some other medical gadgets you can get that can help you keep a tab on things. Fortunately, some of these gadgets are not very expensive and can be procured online without too much trouble. The kind of gadgets suggested in this article are those that help you check vitals like blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, etc and are all non-intrusive. You can use them very easily at home and share the readings with the doctor if needed.

PLEASE NOTE: The readings that these medical devices take cannot be used in place of proper medical readings but can be used as basic placeholders when you are consulting a doctor. Do not self-medicate based on these readings, consult a doctor before you take any medicine. These readings are just for initial precautions, like in the case of the SpO2, for example. Also, do not recommend medicines to others based on their medical data unless you are a certified medical professional.

1. Portable ECG monitor

You can get a portable ECG monitor that usually works in tandem with a smartphone app. This helps you take an ECG and keep a tab on your heart health. Also, most smartwatches like the Apple Watch, Fitbit, etc, come with built-in heart rate trackers that you can use to keep a check your heart rate. The Apple Watch can also alert you about irregular heart rate.

2. Blood pressure machine

An electronic blood pressure machine is also a handy gadget to keep at hand. There are blood pressure machines that give you pulse rate readings as well so you can check for one of those if you are buying one.

3. Pulse oximeters

Thanks to the ongoing pandemic, tracking blood oxygen levels or SpO2 levels has become vital. There are smartwatches in the market that come with SpO2 sensors but it is a better idea to get a proper pulse oximeter instead, ones that you can latch on to your finger for readings. Some of these pulse oximeters also give you heart rate readings as well.

4. Glucometer

A glucometer helps measure glucose levels in the blood. This device is not vital for all households but if you have anyone who is diabetic in your family, you might want to get one of these.

5. A contactless IR thermometer

This one will help you take temperature readings without having to put the thermometer in your mouth or under the armpit. You might have seen most places outside like restaurants and malls (if you have managed to step out at all).

6. Medical alert system

This device helps if you have elderly patients at home. An emergency medical alert system is a handy device that allows people to call for help by just pressing a button. If there is an emergency this is an easier way to alert others instead of having to call out for help or use a phone to do it.