MonitorMe
MonitorMe is a clinical device and a telephone. The telephone handset is equipped with sensors to capture your vital signs and send them via telephone lines to your digital patient record. The digital patient record compares your vital signs with previous records and raises an alert to your medical professional in the event that changes are identified.
It is extremely easy to use and simply plugs into your telephone socket, replacing your current telephone. It is as reliable as your telephone, not needing any additional equipment such as a computer, modem or Bluetooth connection. If you can operate a simple basic telephone then remote healthcare monitoring is now available for you.
Your 4 vitals
- Temperature
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Measuring body temperature is very important in medicine. A number of diseases are characterised by a change in body temperature. With other illnesses, the course of the disease can be followed by measuring body temperature. This allows the doctor to analyse the effectiveness of treatments based on body temperatures.
Changes in temperature can indicate infections, fever or hyperthermia all of which particularly in the elderly can be a prelude to a poor health episode and hospitalization. Fever may be an indication of:
- Infection
- Severe trauma or injury. This may include heart attack, stroke
- Blood clots
- Cancer
- Certain types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
- Diseases in the intestines, such as Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis
- Many other medical problems
A very low body temperature (hypothermia) can be serious or even deadly. Low body temperature usually happens from being out in cold weather. But it may also be caused by alcohol or drug use, going into shock, or certain disorders such as diabetes or low thyroid.
A low body temperature may occur with an infection. This is most common in newborns, older adults, or people who are frail. A very bad infection, such as sepsis, may also cause an abnormal low body temperature.
- Heart Rate
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Your pulse is checked to:
- See how well the heart is working. In an emergency situation, your pulse rate can help find out if the heart is pumping enough blood.
- Help find the cause of symptoms, such as an irregular or rapid heartbeat (palpitations), dizziness, fainting, chest pain, or shortness of breath.
- Check for blood flow after an injury or when a blood vessel may be blocked.
- Check on medicines or diseases that cause a slow heart rate. Your doctor may ask you to check your pulse every day if you have heart disease or if you are taking certain medicines that can slow your heart rate, such as digoxin or beta-blockers (such as atenolol or propranolol).
- Check your general health and fitness level.
A fast heart rate may be caused by:
- Activity or exercise.
- Some medicines, such as decongestants and those used to treat asthma.
- Some types of heart disease.
- An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism).
- Stimulants such as caffeine, amphetamines, diet pills, and cigarettes.
- Drinking alcohol.
A slow heart rate may be caused by:
- Some types of heart disease and medicine to treat heart disease.
- High levels of fitness.
- An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).
A weak pulse may be caused by:
- A blood clot in your arm or leg.
- Diseases of the blood vessels (peripheral arterial disease).
- Heart disease and heart failure.
- Blood Pressure
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Pulse Transit Time (PTT) is seen as a promising method for determining Blood Pressure. The problem of accuracy when converting PTT data to blood pressure readings is challenging as this depends on physical dimensions such as the length of your arm and stiffness of arteries. MonitorMe does not attempt to accurately measure blood pressure but to identify a trend in PTT which is indicative of change in the patients’ state of health. This is considered an appropriate proxy for blood pressure measurement avoiding the need for cuffs in the home environment and eliminating patient error.
High blood pressure (HBP or hypertension) puts your health and quality of life in danger
Left uncontrolled or undetected, high blood pressure can lead to:
- Heart attack — High blood pressure damages arteries that can become blocked and prevent blood from flowing to tissues in the heart muscle.
- Stroke — High blood pressure can cause blood vessels in the brain to burst or clog more easily.
- Heart failure — The increased workload from high blood pressure can cause the heart to enlarge and fail to supply blood to the body.
- Kidney disease or failure — High blood pressure can damage the arteries around the kidneys and interfere with their ability to effectively filter blood.
- Vision loss — High blood pressure can strain or damage blood vessels in the eyes.
- Sexual dysfunction — This can be erectile dysfunction in men or lower libido in women.
- Angina — Over time, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease or microvascular disease. Angina, or chest pain, is a common symptom.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD) — Artherosclerosis caused by high blood pressure can cause a narrowing of arteries in the legs, arms, stomach and head, causing pain or fatigue.
Normally low blood pressure is not considered a chronic condition but occasionally it may be and low blood pressure can occur due to medication. Low blood pressure may be accompanied by:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Nausea
- Fainting (syncope)
- Dehydration and unusual thirst
- Dehydration can sometimes cause blood pressure to drop. However, dehydration does not automatically signal low blood pressure. Fever, vomiting, severe diarrhea, overuse of diuretics and strenuous exercise can all lead to dehydration, a potentially serious condition in which your body loses more water than you take in. Even mild dehydration (a loss of as little as 1 percent to 2 percent of body weight) can cause weakness, dizziness and fatigue.
- Lack of concentration
- Blurred vision
- Cold, clammy, pale skin
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Oxygen Saturation
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Blood oxygen saturation level is used as a measure of the effectiveness of lungs. Also, blood disorders and problems with your circulatory system may prevent your blood from picking up oxygen and transporting it throughout your body. Maintaining the precise balance of oxygen-saturated blood is vital to your health. People with chronic health conditions should monitor their blood oxygen level. This includes asthma, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In these cases, monitoring your blood oxygen level can help determine if treatments are working, or if they should be adjusted.
A below-normal blood oxygen level is called hypoxemia. Hypoxemia is often cause for concern. The lower the oxygen level, the more severe the hypoxemia. This can lead to complications in body tissue and organs.
When your blood oxygen level goes outside the typical range, you may begin experiencing symptoms.
This includes:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain
- confusion
- headache
- rapid heartbeat
If you continue to have low blood oxygen levels, you may show symptoms of cyanosis. The hallmark sign of this condition is a blue discoloration of your nail beds, skin, and mucus membranes.
Cyanosis is considered an emergency. If you’re experiencing symptoms, you should seek immediate medical attention. Cyanosis can lead to respiratory failure, which can be life-threatening.
People who smoke may have an inaccurately high pulse ox reading. Smoking causes carbon monoxide to build up in your blood. A pulse ox can’t tell the difference between this other type of gas and oxygen. If you need to know your blood oxygen level and are a smoker, an arterial blood gas (ABG) test may be the only way to receive an accurate reading.
