DIY health - tech gadgets, lab work, and more

[chassis]

I didn’t see a related thread, so here it goes.

I’m generally a DIY person - home improvement, car maintenance, home IT, etc. My latest DIY endeavor is health, emphasizing tech and data. I’m an engineer by education and health metrics fit my thinking process.

I just got a Kardia Mobile one lead EKG device. So cool. Bluetooth connectivity via mobile device app. It works great and seems like a well made product. It’s the latest health gadget I have added. It joins my Fitbit Versa 2 and an Omron cuff-style non-Bluetooth blood pressure machine, plus the trusty bathroom scale.

All of the hardware devices allow instant measurement at my own convenience, and I plan to start a log in Excel with the data. The engineer is getting excited.

Data collected with the devices:

SpO2
heart rate
blood pressure
EKG
body weight
height (tape measure/yardstick)

The Kardia and Fitbit apps use the data to give a number of assessments (sleep quality, heart rhythm, cardio score (VO2max), BMI, calories burned.

I have also read about self-ordered labs (blood and urine tests). Quest Diagnostics is one provider that offers DIY-ordered labs. The lab results can be added to the collection of home-based measurements.

Is anyone else enthusiastic about the growing ability to collect an increasing amount of increasingly precise health data at home, on demand?

[JP10]

In response to your question, yes and no. I am also an engineering by education, and trade to an extent. I've always liked the ease of accessibility to look at real time data on my Garmin (Vivo active 3). With that said, I've always used it as more of a consistency check rather then to collect and chart data, besides when it comes to running which I would look back and compare. The EKG device that you had mentioned does seem pretty neat, would be interesting in checking it out. The other part of me is a cheap ass that doesn't like to buy anything I don't "need". It would be cool to track the data if I was just starting into fitness, then you could really see some results!

[UncleWede]

I use my FB Ionic all the time, but have never quite been sure I understand/trust the sleep metrics. If I only get 5.5 hours of sleep, that certainly should NOT get a score of 85+
I transfer data from the FB (heartrate average) into Runkeeper. I also have a little finger SpO2 that I run a test before/right after running, and even carry it with me for the turn-around. I annotate that and my glucose tests into the RK entry, but I have yet to go back and look at the data.

For my CGM, I enter insulin, carbs, and note exercise where appropriate.

I wish there was a way (other than the conspiracy that Google/AWS already have it all consolidated) where I had a single pane to view it all.

[chassis]

JP10 The Kardia EKG device is "only" $90, is easy to use, and appears to be accurate. It does, however, only give generalized assessments such as "Normal" (gee, thanks), so the depth of insights goes only so far. And I can't say that I need it, as much as I think it's cool and got it out of curiosity.

UncleWede For data consolidation, there is always Excel or, heaven forbid, a piece of paper or a whiteboard...

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by chassis

JP10 The Kardia EKG device is "only" $90, is easy to use, and appears to be accurate. It does, however, only give generalized assessments such as "Normal" (gee, thanks), so the depth of insights goes only so far. And I can't say that I need it, as much as I think it's cool and got it out of curiosity.

UncleWede For data consolidation, there is always Excel or, heaven forbid, a piece of paper or a whiteboard...

I failed out of Engineering in college and got a math degree instead But I DO have Engineering hairline

[chassis]

Anyone playing with electronic health gadgets at home?

Fitbit seems to be introducing additional non-pay features. Sleeping breathing rate and skin temperature while sleeping are new data I have noticed. Not sure what these are useful for - does anyone know? The "help" information on Fitbit is useless. They are steering a very wide berth around giving any "insights" or "advice" to avoid (I assume) litigation.

The Kardia device is pretty cool. Very easy to use. They also offer a 6 lead device for $149, not sure what health insights that can provide over the single lead device for $89.

I do a monthly BP reading, which is interesting to see if/how it changes. I learned that body posture (sitting, standing, lying down) has a large affect on BP. I have standardized my body position and am getting more consistent data.

Anyone else data junkies in the home health domain?

[chassis]

Super boring, but we just bought a Braun ear digital thermometer, on the suggestion of a health care professional that ear measurements are the most accurate after, well, you know the other measurement. Down there...

I haven't checked whether the Braun has bluetooth or an app. I know that Omron offers bluetooth blood pressure devices. My Omron is an older/simpler version without bluetooth.

I'm probably going to get the 6 lead Kardia ekg device sometime this year. I read an NIH study that suggests the 6 lead device is as effective as a 12 lead device for indicating concerns.

Has anyone started using, or added new, digital DIY home health tools?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by chassis

Super boring, but we just bought a Braun ear digital thermometer, on the suggestion of a health care professional that ear measurements are the most accurate after, well, you know the other measurement. Down there...

We expect DETAILED comparison anal-ysis shortly

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

We expect DETAILED comparison anal-ysis shortly

.

[chassis]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

We expect DETAILED comparison anal-ysis shortly

With or without photos and video?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by chassis

With or without photos and video?

Paging MKSixer

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Paging MKSixer

Your request, sir?

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Your request, sir?

We need



a shrubbery


no, not a shrubbery, a non-sequitur


wait, wait, no, I think the request was for anal-ysis photography