Cool Pedometers You Should Consider Buying In 2019

In the last two decades, the healthcare industry has developed a number of innovative technology devices that have thrown it well and truly into the digital age. From technological advances within the hospital to devices that can help people better manage their health on the go, these innovations have provided something for everyone’s needs!

For the sake of this article, we’re going to stick specifically to pedometers, a portable electric or electromechanical device that counts an individual’s steps. These devices have increased in popularity over the course of the last decade, and many brands have become a namesake in our everyday lives.

With that being said, not every pedometer has been created equally, and with technology like this, choosing the best of the best really is important. The cheaper versions tend to be less accurate, and have none of the additional features that those we mention in this article have.

If you’re looking for high-quality pedometers that are suitable for most price points, then look no further, as we explore the best pedometers available in 2019.

Samples of Pedometers
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Omron Heart Guide Smartwatch

Named the best pedometer of 2019 by HealthcareWeekly, the Omron HeartGuide is a unique wearable medical device you need to own today.

Clinically tested and approved, this device scientifically measures your steps and total walking distance each day using real-time walking data.

Unlike some of the other pedometers on the market, it will also provide you with information about the number of calories you have burnt.

But that isn’t all that the Omron HeartGuide Smartwatch offers. With a flexible synthetic wristband that deflates and inflates with ease to fit comfortably on your wrist, this device also continuously takes blood-pressure readings, providing you with real-time indications of your heart health.

Inflating and deflating with ease to take these readings, it will not be uncomfortable and has been created so that it performs as well as in-hospital blood pressure tests. For ease of use, you can also download an Alexa skill related to the smartwatch, which will provide you with information about your steps and heart health whenever you request it.

This innovative technology that has yet to be replicated by another brand does come at a price of $499, which can be slightly out of some people’s price ranges, but it’s definitely worth it if you are able to stretch your budget.

Fitbit Charge 3

Being one of the most well-known brands on the market, the Fitbit has brought previous knowledge of wearable devices to their Charge 3. This device delivers the most accurate pedometer readings across all metrics when compared to most popular pedometers, with tests showing it is out just 25 steps in every 2500 on average.

It also comes with a fast, user-friendly app that you can use to keep track of your fitness settings and goals and work out whether your current level of activity is enough to reach them. You can, if desired, use the app to adjust your stride length, which will increase the accuracy of the metrics you receive.

In addition to this, the Fitbit Charge 3 is waterproof up to 50M, meaning you don’t need to remove it for showering. This also makes it the perfect device for those who swim or engage in regular water sports activities. The Fitbit Charge 3 is relatively cheap, with an MSRP of $169.95.

Misfit Shine 2

If you’re looking for a pedometer that you can style as a watch, the Misfit Shine 2 is the choice for you. With a slick, modern and snazzy design and no display on the front, it’s easy to disguise, making it perfect for those in professional job roles.

With a 30 day memory, this is also perfect for business trips, holidays and other events, as you can set it up and forget about it for weeks before needing to charge it. If you’d rather not have a pedometer showing, the Misfit can handle that, too, as it has the ability to clip it onto your side pocket, belt or waist, or drape it around your neck.

This pedometer has many benefits, including being waterproof and having the ability to measure swim laps in addition to step counts.

The only downside to this pedometer is that it is not the most accurate out of the options on this list, though it is thought to be considerably better at measuring distances than specific step counts.

Striiv Fusion Lite

The Striv Fusion Lite is a unique pedometer that comes with several different features usually reserved for smartphones, including notifications, a full touch screen and a clear LED display. Despite this, it takes its primary role of a pedometer seriously, and is considered to be even more accurate than the Fitbit itself! In fact, it’s only 20 steps out over the course of 2500 steps on average.

On a slightly less impressive note, the accuracy cannot be said for some of the other metrics, including calories burned and active minutes.

Xiaomi Mi Band 3

Xiaomi is a Chinese brand that is bringing affordable, and sleek looking pedometers into the mainstream. Despite initial problems with the comfort and design of its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 has none of those concerns, built with a sleek strap that fits snuggly against the skin.

Primarily, this wearable device is used to measure steps, but it’s also loaded with extra features, including a display that allows you to get alerted to emails and texts. The only downside to this app is that it isn’t as accurate as some of the other options on our list, but its Chinese origins do make it a cheaper option, so it’s not worth ruling out completely!

Summary

The wearable devices we have mentioned in this article prove that their capabilities make them one of the greatest digital transformations we have seen in healthcare in recent years. Though the primary job of pedometers is to measure steps and distance, they go to show that this is no longer enough, and the additional features are often what sells the device.

With options to suit every price point, this article has provided you with a few examples and their benefits, as well as potential drawbacks, that will help you get a better idea of what pedometers have to offer in 2019, and what you may want to look for going forward.
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Is Vaping Healthier Than Cigarettes – Cancer Research UK Says Yes

Why switching to a vape is a visual boost for your complexion Is vaping healthier for you

If you smoke avidly, this unhealthy practice can show in your appearance, and particularly your complexion. Have you long envied beautiful models whose skin always looks flawless? You can say goodbye to achieving skin of similarly immaculate appearance if you continue to smoke regularly.

However, quitting smoking is famously difficult, and that sheds light on why you could come to appreciate switching to vaping. While vaping is not entirely healthy in itself, it could help you transition to a cigarette-free life. It can also improve your complexion – for these reasons…

Smoking can wreak havoc on your skin

It’s hard to know where to start when it comes to describing how bad smoking can affect your skin. For a start, smoking makes you four times likelier to report insufficient sleep, the Health website explains. That unrest can result in discernible bags under your eyes.

Smoking also significantly increases your likelihood of suffering from the autoimmune-related skin condition psoriasis, which leaves a scaly surface on the skin. On average, smokers are visibly 1.4 years older than non-smokers due to premature aging and wrinkles.

Other visible indicators of a smoking lifestyle include, on the skin, gauntness, and grayness. However, science suggests that, by swapping smoking for vaping, you can reduce such unsightly traces of smoking and edge yourself closer to a model’s complexion. Here are the reasons why…

Is vaping all-around healthier than smoking?Is vaping all-round healthier than smoking?

In the UK, vaping has been increasingly promoted as a healthier alternative to smoking. Public Health England, a Government-run body in the country, has cited vaping as roughly 95% less harmful than conventional tobacco cigarette smoking, as the Daily Mail has reported.

Last year, UK charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) estimated that there were roughly 3.2 million vapers nationally – that’s four times higher than the corresponding figure in 2012. ASH declared that smokers were “finally getting the message” about vaping’s health merits.

The science behind vaping’s positive implications for the skin

Vaping involves the use of an electronic cigarette, otherwise known as an e-cigarette. This device lets users heat a vapor derived from a solution of nicotine, propylene, and flavorings.  In the process of vaping, the device does not produce smoke or carbon monoxide as with a regular cigarette, thus not as bad for your skin.

That’s because the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke displaces oxygen in the skin, while cigarette smoking depletes nutrients – including vitamin C – that help to shield and repair damage to the skin. These drawbacks of smoking help to explain its visibly negative effect on the skin.

According to a recent study detailed by the Daily Mail, smokers of traditional cigarettes inhale much higher levels of toxic chemicals than vapers. “For smokers trying to quit, it might be beneficial to use e-cigarettes as a transition,” the study’s leader, Maciej Goniewicz of the Roswell Park Cancer Center, commented.

It’s easy to get started with that transition by buying a vaping kit from a respected brand. Consider, for example, the Innokin Proton Plex Kit, which includes an Innokin Proton and Plex vape tank.

 

 

Factors that Predict Poor Prognosis in SCD

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a type of anemia that develops during birth due to the autosomal recessive mutation. In layman’s term, an abnormality will occur in the red blood cell structure and function. The autosomal recessive mutation occurs when the parents are positive carriers of the SCD. As a result, there’s a 25% chance that their child will inherit the disease.Factors that Predict Poor Prognosis in SCD

In this condition, the individual will have an irregular RBC is forming a crescent-like shape. The hemoglobin forms strands inside the red blood cell and causes the cell to deform into a crescent-like shape. The structure of the RBCs becomes a viscid causing blockage in the blood flow. Thus, the anemic condition will develop, and the symptoms will start to occur.

However, the sickle cell disease does not only concentrate on the red blood cells, but it may also cause damage to the heart, spleen, bone marrow, and other internal organs of the body. With this regard, how can the medical professionals treat this disease?

Prognostic Factors to Predict the Outcome of the Sickle Cell Disease

1. Etiology: Genotype and Phenotype Influences on the SCD

Chromosome 11 carries the gene-rich and disease-rich DNA makeup and each cell represents around 4% of the DNA structure. It is one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes that spans 135 million base pairs. The base pair is an essential building material for the DNA.

Normal hemoglobin has two subunits of amino acids present in its structure. These are known as the alpha and beta subunits. An individual experiencing SCD will usually have normal alpha subunits but abnormal beta subunits. What causes the beta subunit to be dysfunctional? It’s the alteration of the glutamic acid into Valine in position six present in Chromosome 11.

This further explains the genotype occurrences associated with the sickle cell disease. However, the phenotype occurrence may also influence the sickle cell disease to be aggravated or ameliorated. These are some of the causes that may have an impact on the SCD:

  • Changes in the Temperature Levels
  • Emotional Stress
  • High Altitude and Hypoxia
  • Infection (e.g. Parvovirus B19)
  • Dehydration
  • Cold Weather
  • Acidosis
  • Pregnancy
  • Alcohol Intoxication
  • Ingestion of toxins in the Bone Marrow (e.g. Phenylbutazone)

2. Histopathology: Understanding the Types of SCD Crises

A study and medical research must be performed to fully determine the medical attention needed to treat the SCD. However, you should understand the different types of SCD crises first to know the diseases associated with the SCD. Here are the following types of crises:

  1. Vaso-occlusive Crisis – this occurs when the sickle cell disease causes obstruction in the capillaries. It restricts the passage of the blow flow to the organs. Hence, this condition may further result in pain, damaged organ, ischemia, and necrosis.
  2. Aplastic Crisis – this happens when the parvovirus B19 invades the production of the red blood cells. It will multiply and destroy the RBCs causing fast heart-beat rate, paleness, and fatigue.
  3. Splenic Sequestration Crisis – it refers to the condition wherein there’s an enlargement of the spleen due to the increased risk of infection. With this regard, the spleen will find it difficult to remove the old RBCs and synthesize antibodies to fight the bacteria.
  4. Hemolytic Crisis – this occurs when there’s a sudden drop in the hemoglobin level due to the accelerated breakdown of the red blood cells. Generally, patients with G6PD deficiencies are prone to this condition.
  5. Acute Chest Syndrome – this is the inflammation of the lungs due to the infections and there’s a sudden saturation of the oxygen hence, sickling the RBCs. The patients will experience chest pain, focal abnormality, respiratory problems, fever, hypoxemia, and pulmonary infiltration.
  6. Dactylitis – it refers to the inflammation of the finger or toe due to the infections caused by the sickle cell anemia.

It is important to diagnose the patient as early as possible to know the associated diseases linked to the SCD. A health care provider and an expert doctor should always be accessible such as the Xpertdox.  In this way, the patient will be able to consult a licensed and expert physician as soon as possible to treat the disease.

3. Pathophysiology: Hemoglobin Molecules Polymerization

The autosomal recessive mutation can cause polymerization in the hemoglobin molecules that causes sickling of the RBCs. Aside from the genes, the phenotype phenomenon occurs that may cause the SCD, such as stress, fatigue, dehydration etc.…

These circumstances may develop high risks of getting a sickle cell disease because these issues may contribute to the reperfusion of the SCD.

  • Increase in the Potassium Levels
  • Gardo’s Channels
  • Increase Neutrophil adhesiveness
  • Increase Platelet activation
  • Changes in cation Homeostasis
  • Water Efflux
  • Nitric Oxide Binding
  • Hypercoagulability

4. Epidemiology: Survival and Control of the Disease

Sickle Cell Disease Statistics and Impact

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the SCD causes health deprivation in almost millions of people throughout the world. Generally, the people affected with this disease lived in the United States, Saharan Africa, Western Hemisphere, India, the Mediterranean Basin, and Saudi Arabia. Even today, it is difficult to predict the exact number of people affected with this disease.

We have gathered the medical facts and scholarly research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Center for Biotechnology Information. These are the latest estimates and statistics for the sickle cell disease carriers:

  • For every 1 out of 13 African-American infants were affected with a sickle cell trait.
  • For every 1 out of 16,300 Hispanic-American babies suffered from the SCD
  • For every 1 out of 500 African-American births suffered from an SCD condition
  • About 1 out of 12 African-American carry the autosomal recessive mutation
  • Approximately around 300,000 infants suffered from Sickle Cell Anemia

A thorough examination and laboratory diagnosis is a must to identify the origins of this disease. Instead of treating the disease itself, there should be prevented prior to the manifestation of the sickle cell disease.

Prevention and Control of the Sickle Cell Disease

Prevention and healthy living may contribute to a lesser chance of getting this disease. If you are affected or a carrier of this disease, you should pay attention to the basic healthy lifestyles. It is important to maintain a balanced diet, exercises vigorously, and sleep properly

You must undergo a series of laboratory tests to check your overall health condition. If you have associated diseases, you should discuss with your doctor. In some cases, doctors may advise you to undergo an imaging lab test, pharmacotherapy, and non-pharmacotherapy medications.

The main objective of the medications is to control and manage the symptoms and disease complications of the SCD. In this way, the patient can live longer and surpass the 40 to 60 age limits for the SCD. Here are the medication strategies for the sickle cell disease:

  • Treatment of the Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Detection and Prevention of the Infections
  • Treatment of the Damage Organs and Complications associated with the SCD
  • Detection and Prevention of Stroke
  • Treatment of the Chronic Pain Syndrome, Chronic Hemolytic Anemia, and Vaco-occlusive crisis

[…]
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5 Essential Ways to Help You Identify Premium Quality CBD Oil

CBD oil is a great supplement and the industry is thriving as more people discover the immense benefits of cannabidiol. This is why you need to purchase premium quality products if you want to reap the benefits of this compound. However, determining the products and brands that are trustworthy can be quite a challenge for most consumers. Here are five ways to help you identify premium quality CBD oil. 5 Essential Ways to Help You Identify Premium Quality CBD Oil

CBD manufacturing

Since the CBD oil industry is still growing, there are no regulations controlling the manufacturing process. This means that different brands will use different methods when processing CBD oil from Hemp plants. Before buying CDB oil, you should research the production methods used by the vendor. It is recommended that you opt for CBD that is processed through supercritical CO2 extraction or ethanol extraction as it yields the highest concentration of cannabinoids and is considered the safest extraction technique. Avoid brands that use cheap extraction methods using toxic solvents like pentane, hexane, propane or butane.
HoneyColony Superior CBD Hemp OilThird-party lab testing

A premium quality CBD brand will provide third-party lab results to consumers. Some companies will provide these results on their website, the packaging, or even both. These third-party lab testing results ensure that the CBD oil is everything that it actually claims to be. This means that it should have a high concentration of CBD, low levels of THC, and should not have any harmful impurities. Some laboratories may get favorable results with some CBD products, while others may fail these tests.

CBD source

To ensure purity and highly effective CBD oil, high-quality materials should be used. The source of CBD oil is crucial because hemp plants tend to absorb anything present in the land where it is farmed and cultivated. This is why you should determine where the brand sources their hemp plants from. If possible, go for brands that use US grown hemp plants because US farmers are necessitated to get accreditation from state departments of agriculture. With the best hemp source, you will be guaranteed high quality when you find CBD oil near me.

Concentration of THC

THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol is the psychoactive cannabinoid present in agricultural hemp and marijuana. Hemp is used when creating CBD oil instead of marijuana because it has lower levels of TCH and high levels of CBD oil. Therefore, when buying CBD oil, you must ensure that it has very low amounts of THC (not more than 0.3%) so that it does not trigger a ‘high’ feeling when using it. Poorly processed CBD oils may have a high concentration of THC because the equipment required to process pure CBD oil is quite expensive.

Whole plant or full spectrum label

Premium quality CBD oil is manufactured using whole plants. Check the product label and company website to determine whether the manufacturer uses whole plants in their CBD products. Some brands will use the term full spectrum while others will use whole plants. Using whole plants instead of a single part of the plant ensures that the CBD oil contains other important components of the medical marijuana plants like flavonoids, terpenes, and other cannabinoids. All these components will work synergistically will CBD and this makes its benefits greater than those of CBD alone.

The popularity of CBD oil is increasing every day and many brands are delivering quality CBD products. We believe that CBD enforcements and regulations will increase over time. Until this happens, consumers must be cautious about the brands of CBD that they trust. The above tips will help you to get high-quality CBD oil.

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