Series: 5 digital health trends you'll see in 2015 (3)

Source : StartUp Health

3. Smartphone case devices

You're already carrying around a smartphone with a protective case. Why shouldn't it do double-duty as a medical device?

"We're starting to see some initial forays into using smartphones and their cases to measure medical conditions that previously required specialized equipment," says Joanne Rohde, CEO and founder of Axial Exchange. "Imagine an electrocardiogram anywhere — not just at your doctor's office — or a DIY blood test to check your glucose right in your pocket. Some of these innovations are already available, but there are many more to come."

One of the first to hit the market was the AliveCor heart monitor, an FDA-approved iPhone case that allows you to record ECGs and heart rate on the go. You can rest it on your fingers or chest to record an ECG in 30 seconds, and know right away if atrial fibrillation is detected, which could be an early indicator of stroke.

In 2015, watch for more such devices to become available as they pass through the FDA approval process.

For example, Azoi's Wello is a mobile health tracking device which doubles as an iPhone case and is currently in the process of getting FDA approval. It can measure vitals such as ECG, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation levels, respiration and temperature.

4. Prescription-only apps

There are already thousands of health apps you can find on Google Play or iTunes. Soon, some of these apps may require a prescription.

One early example is WellDoc's BlueStar, the first "Mobile Prescription Therapy" for people living with type 2 diabetes. The prescription-only app allows people to input data about their glucose levels, diet, exercise, well-being and other factors, which BlueStar automatically analyzes to give the patient immediate guidance and feedback. BlueStar also analyzes the data for the patient's physician and allows the patient to provide a detailed summary of their progress to the physician for review prior to or during office visits.

While you might not see a flood of prescription-only apps hit the app store in January — launching one requires FDA approval, clinical trials, insurance reimbursement and more — WellDoc's co-founder and chief medical officer Dr. Suzanne Sysko Clough says we should "expect to see more Mobile Prescription Therapies for many major chronic diseases over the coming years."

5. Healthier lighting

"But while too much bright light might be harmful at night, too little during the day can also bring you down."

Finally, ever wonder why you have trouble drifting off after staring at your iPad in bed? The culprit may be the blue light emitted from your device — the part of the light spectrum that causes the biggest changes to your internal circadian rhythm, which can disrupt your sleep and impact your health.

In 2015, we'll see a much bigger focus on the effects that artificial light has on people's health, as well as new product innovations to address the problem, particularly in clinical environments and hospitals.
Luckily, there are folks hard at work to add some sunshine to your day. For example, GoodLux Technology recently launched SunSprite, the first wearable device to track daily bright light intake. According to GoodLux, scientific studies have linked bright light exposure to health benefits such as better energy, mood and sleep.