Article Series Health Monitoring
Caregiver Content: Tools for monitoring your loved one’s health
Top tools for monitoring your loved one’s health
If you’re a caregiver for a loved one, monitoring their health is a good way to pick up on potential concerns early on. There are a variety of tools that can help you keep on top of your loved one’s health, continue reading for five top picks!
Blood pressure monitors
High blood pressure becomes more prevalent as we get older. At the age of 60-64, around 43% of Canadians have high blood pressure, increasing to 74% by age 80-84. It’s important to keep an eye on your loved one’s blood pressure as it is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease.
Luckily, at-home blood pressure monitors are easily available. If your loved one has high blood pressure, you should take their measurements twice daily and record the readings. These readings enable you to spot any drastic changes that may require medical intervention, as well as indicating whether any blood pressure medications or lifestyle changes designed to lower blood pressure are working.
You can browse the range of blood pressure monitors available at Wellwise by Shoppers™ here.
Body weight scales
Keeping an eye on your loved one’s weight can also be an important part of monitoring their health. Unintentional weight loss can be a sign of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as other health conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart failure. Meanwhile, being overweight can contribute to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, and certain cancers.
You can shop our range of scales here.
Stethoscopes
Stethoscopes are primarily used by medical professionals, however having an at-home stethoscope may also be useful. Listening to your loved one’s chest can help identify abnormal breathing, an irregular heartbeat, as well as whether their heart rate is too high or too low. The normal resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute.
Click here to discover our range of stethoscopes.
Thermometers
Thermometers have long been a staple of any first-aid kit and are a first port of call if you suspect your loved one has a fever. A wide variety of non-intrusive and innovative thermometers are now available. Many use infrared technology to take a no-contact reading, making them more hygienic. They often also feature digital displays that show the temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.
Our range of thermometers can be found here.
Oximeters
An oximeter is a small, clip-on device which is attached to your loved one’s finger or earlobe to measure the oxygen saturation level of their blood. A saturation level of 95% is considered normal for most healthy people, while 92% and under can indicate a seriously low level of oxygen, known as hypoxemia. Oximeters can be useful for those with lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, and lung cancer, among others.
You can explore the range of oximeters available at Wellwise by Shoppers™ here.
The earlier you pick up on changes in your loved one’s health, the easier it usually is to treat them. These five health monitoring tools can help you help your loved one maintain their health and wellbeing for many years to come.
The information presented in this article is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information in this post as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for professional counseling care. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.
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