2019 in Review: Health & Wellness Trends
As 2019 comes to a close, we’re rounding up our top 5 health & wellness trends that have changed the health & wellness space for the better. Have you given any of these trends a try this year?
The “Sober Curious” Movement
According to the CDC, six people die every day from alcohol poisoning, making alcoholism the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death. In the last year, we’re seeing more and more patients who are beginning to question the social norm surrounding drinking, instead hosting alcohol-free social gatherings or attending alcohol-free bars. There’s been a change in thinking of sobriety from black and white — to more of a spectrum — which allows for more flexibility. “Dry January” is increasing in popularity among millennials which involves taking a month-long hiatus from drinking. Significant research shows that limiting consumption can drastically improve sleep quality, mental health, and help people maintain a healthy weight.
Virtual Mental Health Services
Mental illness has become less socially stigmatized with new app technologies on the rise, driving more and more and more people to rely on their smartphones for mental health services. With millions of Americans affected by mental illness and less than half of them receiving treatment, we’re hopeful for a future where mental healthcare is accessible to everyone who needs it. In January of 2020, Carbon Health will be adding our own virtual mental health services with the same world-class care that our patients have come to expect, all integrated with our existing services.
Telemedicine on the Rise
As patients look for more convenient and affordable ways to access care, telemedicine will become increasingly important in 2020 and beyond. Our patients adopting our virtual visits at a very high rate. More access to virtual mental health services means that patients won’t be spending time and money commuting to and from appointments to receive medical treatments and allows for patients to access care on their own schedule. In 2019 alone, we saw a 2x increase in virtual care visits vs 2018.
Wearable Tech
Wearable technologies like smart watches, fitness trackers and heart rate monitors have have increased in popularity across the globe, and their influence shows no signs of slowing down. As we look forward to 2020, tech advancements will make it even easier to gather personal data that can be used by healthcare providers to improve their patients’ health and well-being which will increase quality of life and make patients more empowered than ever to take ownership of their health.
Intermittent Fasting
We’re seeing a huge trend in diets that involve some amount of fasting time. There are suggestions out there that it can improve your immune system and body function at a base level, but we’re keeping a close eye on this as the data is not clear at this point. Checking in with your primary care doctor during your routine physical about potential diets and what’s most healthy for you is recommended.
