Deep Health for Seniors
Living Longer & Healthier Using Digital Tools
According to my local pharmacy, I recently joined the ranks of seniors (over the age of 55). While that milestone is troubling in some ways, and my white hair would beg to differ, because of “Deep Health” I still feel like I’m in my 20’s or 30's.
What is ‘Deep Health’?
What’s Deep Health? Well, in 2020 my co-author Rob Kowal (former President of the Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology of CIFST) and I wrote a book called “Deep Health: Using Artificial Intelligence to Live Longer & Healthier” ( Amazon.ca) and the lead up to and publishing of this book changed my life forever.
Deep Health refers to the use of technology in alignment with fitness, nutrition, supplements, sleep patterns, water intake and more to improve one’s health and longevity. By leveraging new tools powered by artificial intelligence, the user can be hyper-aware of their own bodies, use that information to diagnose their strengths and opportunities, customize or personalize their health regimen with greater impact and share that data with their healthcare practitioners,
When Rob and I started talking about our personal journeys and various pursuits (Rob’s cancer story, fitness and nutrition insights and my work/travel burnout, and artificial intelligence expertise) four years ago, we started realizing the power of the combination. We discussed smart watches, smart scales, leading authors and people like Tom Brady — the 43 year old, still very fit football player — the evolution of digital health and ways to maintain health as we live longer, was endless. As a result of putting into action these discussions, we have both hit our goals in terms of weight, heart rate, sleep quality, nutritional regimens, daily water consumption and a bunch more because of deep health.
Being able to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, ECG, accidental falls, weight gain, water levels, sleep performance (ie deep and REM sleep), calorie intake, and other key health performance indicators becomes increasingly important as we age. Recognition of what one’s body is telling us is vital to our longevity, and more importantly our healthy longevity.
Who is Leading the Way?
In January 2020, the Surrey, BC-based “Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI)” announced a new partnership to advance Canadian digital healthcare solutions for seniors recognizing that “Innovation in the longevity sector is vital to address the needs of an ever-increasing number of Canadian seniors”. They are not alone in pursuing digital health for our population.
Loblaws Companies and Shoppers Drug Mart are retail leaders in advancing digital health. In November 2020, they launched app, “a new health and wellness app powered by League, the country’s leading health operating system (health OS) technology provider… designed to empower Canadians with convenient access to healthcare resources and support — where and how they want it. “ Chatting with a registered nurse or dietitian, and monitoring and working through personal health goals whether they be maternal, family, or even mental health goals are all addressed by the new app.
Where we live in our advancing years is also important in aging. A 2020 report from Rock Health found that “As older adults continue to adopt technology, digital health technologies will play an important role in helping them age in place”. Overcoming barriers like mobility, home maintenance, accessibility are relevant for all of these adults, and better health is foundational to all of these issues.
The Covid-19 reality brought the Telehealth ecosystem to the forefront with fewer in person patients visits and more “Zoom” and traditional phone interactions with healthcare practitioners. According to the CDC, “during the first quarter of 2020, the number of telehealth visits increased by 50%, compared with the same period in 2019, with a 154% increase in visits noted in surveillance week 13 in 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.” Augmenting Telehealth visits with transmission of personal healthcare data can transition the effectiveness of a patient “visit” to new levels with not just single-point data but trend data over extended periods of time. This is where digital or deep health comes in.
When we wrote “Deep Health”, we wanted to help all our readers understand what tools were available to them and how they could apply them towards better health. As one of our readers, a nationally ranked skier stated “Deep Health is a thoughtful and thorough review of the landscape of health tech. It starts with the personal journey the authors have with data and health. The book covers different aspects of health and the current tech available to improve those markers.” We’re passionate about our health and that of our readers and we are hopefully that technology will inform your journey to good health.
Five Things to Do Today Towards Deep Health:
1) Take the time to get to know yourself better, especially as you age and fit into that category your pharmacist says is “senior”, to relish in your good health.
2) Invest in a smart scale (we use the Etekcity version — under $US 50 in most cases) to learn about 11 health factors other than your weight
3) Talk to your healthcare practitioner about what information they believe is relevant for your unique health and start tracking.
4) Comparison shop for a smartwatch that fits your price range and needs (Rob uses Apple products and I use Samsung). There are lots available on the market today.
5) Find someone that motivates you (whether to simply chat for inspiration or get ideas from) to keep progressing on your deep health journey.
If you would like to learn more about successfully navigating the digital health world and embedding the technology into your own health regimen, purchase our book on Amazon, visit a local pharmacy like Loblaws or Shoppers Drug Mart or see our contact information below.
#digitalhealth #ai #artificialintelligence #healthcare #healthtechnology #fitnesstechnology
Brian Lenahan is the author of four Amazon-published books on artificial intelligence including the Bestseller “Artificial Intelligence: Foundations for Business Leaders and Consultants”. He is a former executive in a Top 10 North American bank, a University Instructor, and mentors innovative companies in the Halton and Hamilton areas. Brian’s training in AI comes from MIT and he writes extensively on artificial intelligence and quantum c0mputing.
Email: ceo@aquitaineinnovationadvisors.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-lenahan-innovation/
Aquitaine Innovation Advisors: www.aquitaineinnovationadvisors.com
Sources:
Trends in the Use of Telehealth During the Emergence of the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January-March 2020
Weekly / October 30, 2020 / 69(43);1595–1599
Lisa M. Koonin, DrPH1; Brooke Hoots, PhD1; Clarisse A. Tsang, MPH1; Zanie Leroy, MD1; Kevin Farris, MAEd1; B. Tilman Jolly, MD2; Peter Antall, MD3; Bridget McCabe, MD4; Cynthia B.R. Zelis, MD5; Ian Tong, MD6; Aaron M. Harris, MD
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
