Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The quantified self: Does body-tracking make a person healthier?

Science has determined a number of things about the human body over the centuries. Coupled with technological advancement, machinery today is at a point where it can safely examine and operate on the human body more accurately than an actual human being can. Now that solutions are available for most diseases and physical challenges, focus is shifting to preventing them.

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On top of getting a regular dose of ailment-specific vaccines, it is generally accepted that the best way to avoid illnesses is to remain healthy. Aiming to promote this, America has seen over a decade’s worth of diet and exercise fads, all of which require some amount of arithmetic. Those watching their weight engage in a grueling task of calorie counting, while runners and exercise buffs who wish to track their progress time laps on their watches then sync with tracking apps on the Internet.

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The latest in technology for healthy living, The Quantified Self is a movement that incorporates data acquisition into the aspects of one’s everyday life. Tracking duration, pace, calories burnt and eaten, and other factors, this method aims to help users determine which of their routine activities are in accordance with their health goals versus those which exacerbate their weight problem.

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Because the movement is new, it is still unclear whether access to detailed information about their body gives people lasting motivation to keep it healthy. However, one consolation would be that body-tracking exposes when a person is getting weak and prone to injuries or sudden ailments like cardiac arrest and stroke, thus making it useful for those in these dire situations.

It is essential for some doctors to tracking a patient’s condition and progress. Having developed systematic tracking and record-keeping applications, TSI Healthcare helps doctors deliver full-time care. Read more about the company’s products on this website.