HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Health concerns have always been high on the priority list for most people. Billions of dollars are spent on research and development every year throughout the world in search of ways to help people live healthier lives. In the section titled Medical Notes, the Almanack features some of the insights into the technology and developments from the medical fields.
Wearable technology evolves past to greater levels
According to the PEW Research Center about one in five Americans use a smart watch or some other type of fitness reading device. And those numbers are expected to grow as technology continues to evolve.
From the Almanack:
“Wearable technology has evolved beyond step tracking. Modern devices now monitor heart rate, blood sugar levels and sleep patterns, acting as mini labs that offer real-time data for proactive health management. This continuous monitoring enables early detection of health issues, turning prevention into a practical reality.”
With the growing costs of medical insurance, doctor and hospital visits and the rising costs in prescription drugs, the expectation of more Americans seeking out alternatives to be pro-active at monitoring and catching health risks only makes sense.
Mental health is serious business
“For decades, the approximately 24 million people who suffer from schizophrenia, worldwide, have been treated with drugs that target dopamine receptors, according to the World Health Organization. These medications, however, “can cause really adverse side effects,” says Hannah Brown, M.D., clinical associate professor of psychiatry at Boston University’s Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. They include movement effects, weight gain, drowsiness and metabolic disfunction. A newly approved drug, Cobenfy, has a different target to treat symptoms and, as a result, has fewer undesirable side effects.”
Schizophrenia is just one of the many mental health issues that are being suffered by people all around the world. According to the National Alliance of Mental Health, over 60 million adults in the U.S suffer from some sort of mental illness. That does not count the numbers of children and teenagers. What is even more concerning is that those numbers are just for the people who have been diagnosed or have sought out treatment.
New achievements in COVID-19 and flu detection
“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized an over-the-counter rapid test that can detect both COVID-19 and the flu — two common illnesses caused by different viruses that share a list of overlapping symptoms. The test, from Healgen Scientific LLC, can detect proteins from the viruses that cause flu (influenza A and B) and COVID in about 15 minutes with a nose swab. It’s the first non-prescription combo test to hit the market with the FDA’s traditional approval process.”
Health and wellness developments continue to grow with further innovations in technology. More medical notes and information resources can be found in the pages of The Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack. LocalNews1 has partnered with The Almanack to bring you a story every Monday taken from current or past editions.
First published in 1797, it’s the second oldest almanac in the United States and has been in continuous publication for 230 years and is the only almanac in the United States still published by the founders’ direct descendants.
