Portable Health Aids

Some years back I had to have surgery, and during the hospital stay it was determined I need to occasionally monitor my heart.  I was told to obtain a Kardia device. 

A Kardia device works via an app.  Physically, it is a flat device just a few inches long, and about an inch high.  Once the app is activated it is operated by placing two fingers from each hand on the small metal surfaces, one hand on each metal surface.  It takes about thirty seconds to get ready, then a clock counts down another thirty seconds.  An ekg graph appears on the screen of your smart phone.  This can later be downloaded by your physician, or the output can be emailed to your physician.  The device gives a short analysis, and also records the heart rate.  It is limited, and cannot detect a heart attack, but it can be helpful as a portable heart monitor.  It easily fits in a pocket or purse.

There is also a service, for a fee, to have a physician read the output.

Now, a more elaborate version is available.  As with most things, newer versions have improvements over the older ones.

Many people need to keep track of blood pressure.  Devices for home use are available.  It might be deemed necessary to take such devices along when traveling.  Finding space in luggage is often difficult, so small wrist devices might be a better idea. 

Regardless of which type of device one chooses, it may be necessary to be able to manipulate the cup with one hand.  Be certain the device can be manipulated without assistance if no assistance is likely to be available.

Since this is a battery device make certain the batteries are good before traveling.

Insulin needs to be cool.  Keeping insulin cool is important.  Frio makes an assortment of cooling devices.

In my case I use insulin pens.  A small cooling device, activated by water, is available, and fits easily in a pocket.  In addition to the pens it can hold the needles that go with the pens.

For those not using the handy pens, larger cases can be used for insulin vials.

Some Frio devices can keep insulin cool for many hours, which can be important in long flights.

Pill box organizers can keep track of whether or not medication was taken.  Some have daily partitions, and others have both morning and night daily partitions.  However, if traveling for a prolonged period, it might be worth bringing several pill organizers, one for each week of the trip.  This prevents the cumbersome task of carrying the bottles and refilling the pill organizer weekly.

Remember to include any vitamins or supplements.  They can also be included in a pill box.  Just make certain the partitions are large enough to accompany everything.

A Fitbit looks like a watch, and can give the time, but it is so much more.  It can keep track of the number of steps, minutes of exercise, calories burned, and even the number of flights of stairs one has climbed.  Some models do much more.  Yes, there are different models, and not every Fitbit does all the things other models do.  And they can give false readings.  The number of steps, for example, will count the times the arm moves, so if you are waving the arm with the Fitbit it will count extra steps.  And as for flights of stairs, I found my Fitbit counts many extra flights when I wear it on a certain, bumpy road.  But, it is helpful in monitoring your activity. 

Having the right medical devices can be an enormous advantage, whether traveling a great distance or just a short way from home.  And do not forget any important medical history or your insurance cards.  Finally, a card to contact your clergy in case of an accident is important.

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