What’s Trending in Health

By Wendy Robertson

Some of the biggest health care and medical trends for 2018 have nothing to do with gadgets or new medical techniques. The increased number of generics that will be released over the next few years is due to the expiration of the original patents. This, combined with the abundance of new, technological advancements, are two of the most important trends when it comes to reducing the cost, as well as the effectiveness of medical treatment plans. The following trends affect all types of health care ranging from effective treatment options for managing pain to lifestyle tools that make living healthy easy and cost-effective.

PRP Injections
PRP Injections with Stem Cells and Growth Factors Platelet-rich plasma injections use the patients own stem cells and growth factoring agents to stimulate healing on a cellular level. Although it has been used over the past few years, the procedure has become more popular because it uses the patients own cells to elicit a healing response.

Apps and Exercise
Devices like the new Fitbit Ionic® Watch combines the latest apps with the features of your smart phone. The apps in the past were primarily to help individuals who were trying to regain their place in the gym. Newer, more advanced apps are being designed to track the person’s progress and communicate with your trainer even when they can’t be present. They can also share information with your primary care provider.

Wireless Technology to Prevent Heart Failure
Cardiologists can now have the technology to place small wireless sensors directly into the pulmonary artery. This allows it to measure the amount of pressure in the artery and send data directly back to the doctor where it can be used to prevent serious heart attacks or other types of cardiovascular/pulmonary distress.

Genetic Testing for Personalized Medical Care
Advancements in genetic testing have made it cost-effective for the development of personalized treatment plans. Doctors can now order genetic testing that allows them to customize a patient’s treatment plan according to their exact body chemistry and structural make-up. Genetic testing can identify the potential risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other serious health conditions.

Mobile Healthcare
Much like the apps we use to monitor our exercise and weight loss patterns, there are programs for our phones and tablets that allow us to communicate effectively with our health care providers.This type of mobile health care allows you to visit your doctor when a physical visit to the doctor isn’t possible.