Healthcare at its best

The progress that the healthcare industry has made in the last many decades is simply stupefying. Particularly, its adoption of technologies to provide positive patient outcomes in a short period is commendable.

The global pandemic only emphasized the need to embrace, disrupt and exploit technology to the best of everyone’s benefit. Globally, healthcare solution providers are adapting to the latest technologies as and when they are introduced.

Canada has always focussed on positive health outcomes and boasts of a vibrant healthcare system. Indisputably, the country's healthcare solution providers altered their operations with the demands of the time – particularly during the pandemic.

When the turmoil triggered by the coronavirus left the world in confusion and all industries had to halt operations abruptly, the health space and allied sectors swung into action. It was in demand majorly, but the challenges to meet people’s healthcare needs were daunting. Canada switched over to healthcare platforms before the advent of the global pandemic. During the lockdowns, the country’s healthcare solution providers improved the online platforms quickly by adopting newer technologies.

These platforms provide consultations and solutions to people and help healthcare professionals interact with peers and experts. Besides, hi-tech medical innovations have also helped medical professionals to heal complex problems.

An added advantage is that Canada has a free and universal healthcare system. The Canada Health Act, 1984, which states that all Canadians have access to a publicly funded healthcare system, has ensured that the citizens get timely treatment for free or at a low cost.

Besides, many private healthcare facilities are providing quality care. Canadians trust their healthcare system, which is a big boost for the medical fraternity and allied sectors. Evidently, the medical fraternity feels as secure as the people of Canada with such a robust and reliable healthcare system.

We came across some exceptional healthcare service providers and featured them in our latest edition of Insights Care, titled Canada's 10 Most Valuable Healthcare Solution Providers. We are sure you will enjoy reading this edition as much as we did during its making.

Have a great read! 

5 Ways mHealth is Benefiting Patients and Providers

Mobile health technology is not just the future of medical care, it’s a future that has arrived in full force. Mobile healthcare has become extremely popular among healthcare providers, health systems, and consumers.

In the past year, the benefits of mobile devices in healthcare became abundantly clear during the global pandemic. Lockdowns and restrictions required people to maintain a physical distance from each other, even during medical consultations. mHealth is now firmly cemented as a viable way of delivering care and improving patient experiences.

What Is mHealth?

mHealth is the utilization of wireless networks and mobile devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and intelligent virtual assistants, to support medicine and public health. These devices are used to track, monitor, or deliver health-related services. It includes everything from fitness trackers, menstrual cycle monitors, diabetes monitors, and blood pressure trackers, to video consultations with doctors and medication adherence applications.

Within digital health, mHealth encompasses all applications of telecommunications and multimedia technologies for the delivery of healthcare services and health information.

Numbers You Should Know

The world increasingly relies on mobile technology, and the medical field can leverage this reliance to improve services, wellness checks, and provide care to people with limited access. Below are statistics illustrating the trends in mobile health.

• About 70% of Americans own a tablet, and more than 90% own a smartphone; more than 64% of these people use their devices for health-related purposes
• Over 40% of doctors believe telemedicine could cut in-office visits in half, in turn reducing costs
• Text and email have replaced phone conversation as peoples’ favorite way to communicate
• More than 2/3 of healthcare technology executives believe mHealth will have a significant impact on health care delivery
• More than 70% of healthcare consumers would like to see expanded use of mHealth technology
• The mobile health industry is worth $56 billion, and it has an expected growth rate of 30%

Top Five Benefits of Mobile Health Devices in Healthcare

1. Quicker Access to Care

Delivery of care is one of the biggest obstacles to ensuring everyone has access to medical care. This is especially true for people living in rural or low-income areas. Many people are frustrated by the need to call for appointments, fill out mounds of paperwork, take time off work, and other inconveniences of traditional medical care.

mHealth provides a solution to these problems. Patients have access to their mobile health applications 24/7 that allows them to quickly schedule appointments, telemedicine visits and consultations, send paperwork, and secure messages to their providers in the comfort of their own homes.

Telemedicine already exists, and healthcare providers have successfully used it to write prescriptions for urgent care situations, counsel patients, provide aftercare instructions, and other matters that don’t require an in-person visit. Telephone, video conferencing, and chat applications also extend to psychotherapy and addiction counseling. Access to care for all is the ultimate goal and mHealth technology can make it a reality.

2. Improves Medication Adherence

Medication adherence is one of the most damning aspects of an inefficient healthcare system. According to the World Health Organization, “increasing the effectiveness of adherence interventions may have a far greater impact on the health of the population than any improvement in the specific medical treatments.” The lack of adherence leads to increased preventable deaths and costs $100 billion per year. Mayo Clinic found that “50% of patients with chronic illnesses don’t take their medications as prescribed.” Poor medication management leads to readmissions, poor health outcomes, and increased health care costs.

There are medication apps that are dedicated to countering this issue. For instance,

• PatientPartner provides patient health education into a game, where users can select a character and then make decisions affecting their character’s health. In the end, they are scored in categories such as health education, strategy, and emergency response. Demonstrating these scores highlights the importance of committing to their treatment plans.
• Medisafe is described as a “virtual pillbox”, taking on the color and shape of a patient’s actual medication. The app then sends push notifications to the patient to remind them to take their medication as well as family or friend, in the event they forget. To provide further support and inclusivity, a low-tech version of the app was launched.

...

...

...

...

Continue Reading: https://insightscare.com/5-ways-mhealth-is-benefiting-patients-and-providers/.

Scientific research on how Social Media affects your mental health.

There’s no doubt that social media is a huge factor that can dictate the way in which we live our day-to-day life.

While a few years ago, before the smartphone era, we couldn’t even imagine our lives being driven by a handful of applications, nowadays some of our biggest fears lie within the number of likes and shares our photos receive.

Positive Aspects of Social Media

Most studies show that social media can have its benefits and advantages, which we’re all familiar with. Surely, most people that use social media are acquainted with the ecstatic feeling you get when you achieve a certain number of likes or shares on a photo, when you end up having somewhat of a viral video, or just even when you find yourself making new friends.

Moreover, social media is a great tool for quickly learning new things. You have access to an immense variety of information – you just have to be careful with what you choose to believe.

King University created an interesting paper about why we post on social media, including reasons such as self-actualization, feeling safe, and fulfilling our psychological needs.

Social media apps also represent a workplace for a lot of youngsters. Influencers or people who work in marketing/public relations or just people with an inclination towards digital marketing can actually earn a more than decent salary from these apps.

However, have you ever thought about the negative sides of it? How does using all these apps affect you in an unfavorable way?

Negative Aspects of social media

Creating habits around using social media can also be harmful to one’s mental health. Spending too much time on social media can have a pretty big impact in the long run.

A huge benefit social media has, is that it allows us to get in touch with old friends and have constant updates on how they’re doing. We can also find people that inspire us, which we decide to follow, and why not, copy some of their habits.

That being said, there is a thin line between getting our inspiration from various celebrities/influencers and starting to actually compare ourselves with them. Numerous studies and research show that this is where toxicity can occur, and this is where social media can unravel its darker side.

Body Image Issues

We often find ourselves checking posts and photos and think “I wish I looked like that”, or “I wish I could also go there/do that”. Along with these thoughts comes the tendency to beat ourselves up and give ourselves a hard time, with toxic thoughts and behaviors.

How often have you watched fitness influencers telling you what you should and should not eat? How many times have you thought “They are always eating right, how come I’m not able to do it?” Or just the general “What’s wrong with me?” question, after jumping to the conclusion that someone is doing better than you, just after seeing one of their posts.

As you can imagine, these thoughts can and will impact your daily life. These are the kinds of thoughts that slowly dissolve your self-confidence and start raising all sorts of irrelevant questions and doubts about your own self.

A study made by Claremont McKenna College states that body dissatisfaction and disordered thoughts generated by social media often lead to serious eating disorders. Young women are desperate to raise the body image standards set by influencers, which is impossible to achieve, so they start developing eating disorders.

Toxic Positivity

Another common issue that comes with the usage of social media is toxic positivity. We’ve arrived in a place where it feels almost forbidden to have bad days.

Everywhere you turn your head around, you’ll see an inspirational quote, maybe also attached to a photo that’s supposed to motivate you.

As humans we are, we are more than allowed to also have bad days. Just like in the world of fitness it is advised and perfectly normal to have a “cheat meal” from time to time, you are allowed to also have bad days in your everyday life.

While it is absolutely normal to not be in the mood to eat healthily, work out and be productive every day, some of the most famous influencers choose to promote the opposite of this – they seem like they have it all together, at any given time, which is practically impossible.

Social Media’s Impact on Teenagers

A study created by The International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering brings up another interesting topic: the impact social media has on teens and growing adults. Most teens nowadays suffer from body image issues.

They spent a lot of their time looking up to all kinds of people that tend to promote unrealistic body standards. Young people grow up thinking that they should look a certain way, even if, in most cases, models and influencers alter their photos to enhance certain aspects.

Losing Track of Time

Besides that, social media is also a big distraction. Parents can have a really hard time getting their kids out of their rooms, where they get stuck to their screens.

However, it’s not just about parents and children. For example, as a student, I can pay someone to do my assignment, just so I can spend that time browsing through social media and making sure I’m not missing out on anything that’s going on online.

.

.

.

Continue Reading: https://insightscare.com/scientific-research-on-how-social-medial-affects-your-mental-health/.

Rewriting Healthcare Solutions

People had just begun to become aware of the importance of wellness and incorporate lifestyle changes when the COVID-19 pandemic brought the entire world to a standstill, reiterating that nothing is more important than one’s health.

But the global pandemic also brought along with it a prolonged lockdown, and people resorted to home workouts, yoga, and meditation. All this is fine if one wants to maintain their health. But for ailments, therapies, and health-related queries and treatment, people needed expert guidance.

Amid the challenges, the pandemic also threw profuse options and opportunities to health and wellness industries to change, diversify, reinvent and revolutionize their services. The health industry was quick to adapt to the need of the hour and provide the necessary services promptly and with ease.

The health and wellness industry leveraged technology like no other sector did during the pandemic. Though healthcare professionals were gradually transitioning to digital healthcare services where physical intervention was unnecessary, the pandemic only quickened the pace of their usage.

The lockdowns forced remote working and staying indoors. Here is where wellness industries with digitalization became the messiah for employees. Remote care replaced physical consultations. Companies began relying on such wellness service providers for the health of their employees. Using Artificial Intelligence and Big Data, wellness service providers began providing online therapies and solutions to patients or users.

The wellness companies provide general healthcare and wellness services for physical and mental wellbeing, nutrition, fitness, and more. This solution created by the pandemic is here to stay for good. Pandemic or no pandemic, like every other sector, the health space will also stick to hybrid services. Easy navigation to the services through Apps or websites has made it relatively easy for people to access and is convenient for the provider and the seeker.

Many wellness service providers emerged as trendsetters, rewriting the way and means to provide care. We shortlisted a few such wellness services providers in our latest edition of Insights Care, 10 Best Wellness Service Providers in 2021. These service providers have made the best out of the pandemic challenge and redrafted healthcare solutions.

Read to learn about the transitional journey that people embraced.

Have a great read!

Healthy Ways to Prevent Drug Addiction.

Developing a drug addiction is neither a character flaw nor a sign of weakness. But it takes more than willpower to overcome the problem. Abusing illegal or certain prescription drugs can create changes in the brain, causing powerful cravings and creating a compulsion to use drugs. This makes sobriety seem like an impossible goal.

But recovery is never out of reach, no matter how despairing the situation seems. With the right treatment and support, change is not far away. The road to recovery often involves obstacles like bumps, pitfalls, and setbacks. But by examining the problem and thinking about change, you’re already well on your way to living a healthy and sober life.

Deal Calmly with Life Pressures and its Ups-Down

The lack of ability to deal with normal life pressure is one of the core reasons that drive people to consume alcohol and drugs. For them, drug-intake aids to escape from the toughness of life. Though learning to cope with these pressures will need a long way, it is always advisable to remain calm and follow a path of serene living.

Develop Healthy Habits

No doubt, healthy habits play a crucial role in keeping our lifestyle healthy and stress-free. Hence, doctors and counselors highly advise consuming a balanced diet and doing regular exercise that makes it easier for people to deal with stressful life. It is because a healthy diet and exercise promote the production of serotonin aka the happy chemical in the brain. This, in turn, will reduce one’s temptation to rely on drugs and alcohol.

Also, one can pick up an old hobby or can try a new one. Doing things that challenge our creativity and spark imagination will trigger our minds.

Decide to Make Change

Recognizing the problem and then deciding to make a change are the major issues for many people struggling with addiction and for those looking for recovery. Committing to sobriety involves changing multiple things that include the way one deals with stress, self-thinking, prescription and over-the-counter medications, and many more. It’s normal to feel conflicted about giving up drugs of choice, even when we know it’s causing problems in life. Recovery needs time, motivation, and support, but by making a commitment to change, one can surely overcome addiction and regain control of life.

Besides, for bringing change in lifestyle, one is required to keep a keen track on drug use which will give a better sense of the role of addiction in life. One should also consider things that are important such as partner, kids, career, or maybe health. One should think about how all these things would get affected by drugs.

Look for Addiction Treatment Options

Once someone is committed to recovery, the next step is to explore treatment choices. While addiction treatment can vary according to the specific drug, a successful recovery program has various elements such as:

Detoxification: It is usually the first step to purge the body of drugs and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Behavioral Counseling and Medication: Individual group or family therapy can help one identify the root causes of drug use. It can also repair relationships, and learn healthier coping skills.

...

...

...

Continue Reading: https://insightscare.com/healthy-ways-prevent-drug-addiction/.

7 Tips to Improve Your Health and Up Your Coffee Game

Drinking coffee has various benefits, but it can be an addictive habit if you do not control the amount you take. If you consume it the right way with healthy additives, you will gain the benefits. Therefore, learn how to improve your coffee habits to make your body stronger and ensure it does not interfere with other things in your life, such as sleep. 

To make the most out of your cup of coffee, below are a few habits and tips to help you enjoy your coffee better and improve your health.

1. Try switching to non-dairy milk

If you tend to drink more than 2 cups of coffee a day, you are a regular coffee drinker. It is vital to limit the amount of milk you are drinking. Drinking too much milk affects the gastrointestinal and causes you to gain weight. Optionally you can try a non-dairy alternative such as almond milk for a natural alternative to cow milk. Thus, you can enjoy your espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk.

2. Moderate your sugar intake

Ideally, coffee should not have any sugar or sweetener, but most people add sugar and lose its original taste. Yet, sugar is among the most harmful ingredient in today’s diet. For this reason, you should go easy on your sugar intake. If you need to add a sweetener, opt for vanilla, stevia, or monk fruit. If you feel you are struggling with sugar cravings, cut the amount you take in half.

3. Enjoy your coffee with a snack

Do not have coffee as your only breakfast. Having coffee on an empty stomach is not a good idea. If you have not had anything to eat, drinking coffee, including decaf alone, will damage your stomach lining and cause effects such as indigestion and heartburn. Also, it intensifies your anxiety symptoms if you feel you do not want to have a full breakfast, snack on something at least before chugging down on the cup of coffee.

 

4. Opt for organic coffee 

The best available choice for your coffee is buying organic coffee, and it is no different from any other product. When you purchase any other regular coffee beans, it has harmful traces of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic coffee grounds are not only better for the environment and your health as well. Thus, it is best to consider switching to a greener option.

5. Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m

Coffee is massively popular for it is a stimulant beverage. Unfortunately, it disturbs your sleep cycle. You can enjoy your coffee in the morning, 2-3 cups, but after 2 o’clock it is best to avoid drinking it. Choose more calming drinks for the evening to help you sleep better at night. In the afternoon, opt for a cup of tea or decaf if you want a good night’s sleep.

 

6. Add cocoa or cinnamon to your coffee 

If you are on the journey of having less sugar in your coffee, add cocoa and get a boost of antioxidants. Mocha is a popular choice of coffee drink in many parts of the world. Similarly, cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant and beneficial in various ways to your body. Just use a dash of it, for too much will cause uncomfortable symptoms. Using these two gives you two different ways to have your coffee, and you can alternate them to enjoy your coffee differently.

7. Stick to natural creamers

The low-fat, artificial creamer story is not as healthy as advertisers make it seem. Such products are processed with unwanted chemical ingredients. Thus, do not buy into the artificial creamer story and only use natural creamers. The best is organic grass-fed cow milk or vegetable milk, and they are better that way.

To sum up, the above are some tips to up your coffee game that are the best to incorporate into your coffee drinking. If you love some of the tricks shared above, share them with another coffee-loving person you know. More importantly, avoid using non-filtered water, make it a habit to use filtered water, you can follow through to ensure your coffee tastes better.

Source.

More blogs on Food and Beverages.

UAE: All Set to Become a Global Healthcare Hub.

UAE’s health care system is all set to undergo a significant transformation in the global market. It is predicted that in the next five years, UAE’s health care sector will grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 75%. Medical tourism is also expected to get a massive thrust.

The emerging trend of spending in private healthcare facilities and inclination towards preventive care owing to a robust healthcare system and health consciousness have propelled the revenue generated in recent years. This is only expected to surge further.

In addition, the ongoing global pandemic has yanked the entire world’s attention towards a single important factor — healthcare. UAE has been prompt enough to heed the calling and has pepped up its healthcare system.

People of the UAE have realized the scaling necessity for care during health and illness. A whopping response to the state-of-the-art system with modern care facilities followed. This is expected to continue post-Covid. The rise in lifestyle diseases and increased awareness for precaution and treatment have led to the demand for excellence in healthcare, and medical establishments are only ready to oblige.

The UAE has also been quick to adopt technologies in healthcare services that have become the need of time for fast and efficient deliverance. For instance, telehealth that had been trending pre-Covid got a significant impetus during Covid. New, smart technologies are being adopted by the healthcare ecosystem of the UAE to enable people easy access to care. Newer models are expected to emerge in the coming few years to fulfill the healthcare needs of citizens, ex-pats, and medical tourists.

Compulsory health insurance in UAE and the government’s willingness to spend on healthcare have further encouraged the residents to seek treatment. The growing population of the elderly and the need for long-term care, including home care facilities, led to the demand for excellence in healthcare.

The robust healthcare system that is only growing in leaps and bounds promises many business opportunities in the field and its allied services. There is also a growing need for qualified medical professionals in UAE.

Looking at the overall scenario of the healthcare sector in UAE, one can comfortably say that it is all set to become a global healthcare hub.

We chose a few of the healthcare service providers that have been at the forefront of the race and featured them in our latest edition of Insights Care — UAE’s 10 Best Healthcare Service Providers 2021.

Have a great read!