Over time, technology has had an increasingly important role in improving medical treatments and facilities. Since the beginning of civilization, people have used tools to help improve their health. The earliest examples include using obsidian to scrape skin or bone infections, carving flint blades to cut meat and vegetables, and boiling water to make tea or medicine.
As societies became more complex, these practices were incorporated into what we now refer to as medicine. Ancient cultures relied on instinct, folklore, and intuition to determine how best to treat diseases. With the advent of advanced understanding of disease etiology (the root cause of symptoms), however, early physicians could do things like tell when someone was sick due to a change in their diet, activity, or sleep patterns. They could also identify potential causes of illness by observing bodily functions such as digestion, breathing, urination, and excretion.
With the development of pharmacy and surgery, early practitioners knew how to mitigate or eliminate risk factors for certain illnesses by administering appropriate remedies. For example, if someone was suffering from fever, they would administer cold liquids to reduce heat in the body and promote sweating, and ingestible medicines to address underlying problems. If there were no improvements after several days, doctors would perform invasive procedures, such as inserting needles under the surface of the skin to obtain fluid samples for testing.
These are just some examples of how technological advances have played an integral part in helping humans stay healthier.
Medical methods
Modern medicine is an incredible feat of technology that has improved the quality and length of life for many people. Starting with blood work, diagnostic testing using touch screen or computerized devices, to X-rays, CT scans, and other imaging tools, medical professionals now have access to more information about your health than ever before.
Technology has made it possible to perform these tests at home or in a doctor’s office, reducing the need to go into a hospital setting. This, along with early detection of disease, allows for earlier intervention and recovery.
Medical robots such as pacemakers and defibrillators were once only available in hospitals, but today there are ones you can buy online or through vendors who sell robotic equipment.
These days, almost anyone can pick up a smartphone and review how to do basic self exams and treatments. Online resources and forums provide guidance and help for patients and doctors looking to improve their care strategies.
Overall, technological advances have helped make sure everyone has access to high quality healthcare. And while some may feel like our increasingly tech savvy world is taking away from personal wellness, I believe it is helping us become healthier individuals.
Medical information
With an ever-increasing amount of medical information available to us, it has become increasingly difficult to know which info is accurate and worth exploring.
With all that information floating around, how do you determine what is factually correct? And more importantly, why are some treatments seemingly better than others for the same condition?
It’s hard not to compare notes with your friends and colleagues who also seem to be struggling to find answers. It can feel like a never ending search!
In this era of quick answers and instant results, we have become accustomed to expecting them immediately. Unfortunately, medicine isn’t quite as efficient at delivering those goods yet.
That doesn’t make any sense, does it? Why would something work slowly when speed is our goal?
The reason is because most of us don’t pay enough attention in doctor’s offices, hospitals, or even online forums to learn about potential alternatives before picking one over another.
We’re too focused on choosing between two similar solutions instead of looking into whether either one works well for us as individuals — and if they could possibly be improved upon, or replaced by something else.
Medical apps
Medical apps are software programs that help you diagnose or treat a disease, monitor your health, find a doctor, research treatments, and/or communicate with other doctors and patients.
Medical apps have become quite popular in recent years as people gain access to smart phones with internet connections more frequently. Because most medical professionals now-a-days require access to such resources, it is very easy for everyone to stay up-to-date on their diagnoses and treatments.
It is also possible to connect with other patients online and get second opinions or advice. While some of these services are free, many others will ask you to pay a monthly subscription fee or even buy individual plans.
Online health communities
Early online forums were mostly focused on giving patients resources to help them feel better about themselves for being sick or informed about their diseases, but they lacked one important ingredient: motivation to change your lifestyle.
That changed in 2002 when HealthVine was founded as an open community where people with same conditions could connect, discuss treatments, find other patients who needed moral support, and work together to achieve wellness.
Since its launch, HealthVine has grown into one of the largest chronic disease self-management programs in the world, serving over 2 million members at any given time.
There are many ways that Healthvines aid in this goal including offering live chat rooms, symptom checkers, email services, mobile apps, and more. By having these tools, users do not have to go through all of the hard work of creating an account by yourself, finding someone with similar issues, and then both trying to figure out what works for you.
All of these features give individuals with the same condition easy access to eachother, information, and therapies. This helps create a supportive environment which can be motivational for those looking to get back into the habit of staying healthy.
Social media sites
Over the past few years, there have been many medical advancements made possible by social media. Online communities are creating an increasingly connected world where people can share their experiences with certain treatments and check out what others are doing to feel more confident in them.
Social networks like Facebook and YouTube allow for interactive conversations as well as videos and blogs that spread knowledge and information about various conditions and treatments. This is especially helpful for those who are unsure of a particular approach or want second opinions.
By having access to this information, you will know whether something works and possibly even find new approaches or strategies to try. It also helps to create supportive groups with other patients and/or clinicians so they do not feel alone.
Furthermore, it allows for easier communication and understanding of different symptoms and diseases. People can compare notes and see if anyone else has similar experiences, which may give you some clues to help figure out what’s going on and how to treat it.
Genetically modified foods
We are now living in an era where we have access to almost limitless ways to improve our health, or at least give you some benefits for being healthy.
There are many different types of genetically modified (GM) food that go beyond just containing added vitamins and minerals like what we would find in vegetables and fruits. Some contain ingredients that cannot be obtained through natural processes, and must therefore be manufactured via genetic engineering.
These new food products have people really polarized about them. On one hand they say GM foods are dangerous because they can potentially interact with other substances in your body and cause harm. On the other hand they believe it is our duty as humans to explore all possibilities when it comes to improving our overall health.
A lot of the controversy surrounds whether or not these foods should be allowed in our diets given that we do not know the long-term effects of eating them.
Downsides of technology in medicine
There have been many studies done that show how technology can help make your health better, but also how it can do more harm than good.
A few examples include when people use e-cigarettes as an alternative to quitting smoking, there has been proof found they may be less effective at helping you give up tobacco and instead promote using nicotine products which are much harder to find.
Another example is when someone with type 2 diabetes uses automated insulin pumps or monitors their blood glucose levels too frequently, this can actually hinder the effectiveness of those tools since the body gets used to the pump doing its work for them.
Yet another instance comes from patients who suffer from anxiety or depression, where something like a smartphone can become a source of stress due to all the worries it invents for you.
Positive impacts of technology on medicine
Over the past few decades, technological advancements have had a significant impact on how we diagnose and treat disease. Technologies such as MRI scanners, CAT (computerized axial tomography) scans, x-ray machines, ECG (electrocardiogram) equipment, blood pressure monitors, and more enable us to identify diseases earlier and find better treatments for them.
In some cases, new technologies have even been able to cure patients! A few examples include using radiation to destroy cancer cells after surgery or administering immunotherapy vaccines to activate your body’s own immune system to attack foreign substances.
Overall, early detection is one of the most important strategies in improving people’s health. This is why it is so crucial that everyone should know their personal medical history and be aware of any changes they may notice in themselves or others.
By being informed about potential symptoms, you can take steps to get help sooner. Health professionals use advanced tools and techniques to assess whether there are signs of illness. It is very much like having your own diagnostic toolbox at hand.
Furthermore, many healthcare facilities now offer online services and/or mobile apps to monitor and manage your overall wellness. You can easily access this information from anywhere with an internet connection.
It is never too late to start educating yourself about health issues and self-diagnosis. While some things will always require human interaction with a doctor, other ways to obtain accurate information are just a click away.
