DIY health

chassis · 01-12-2021, 05:14 PM

I didn’t see a related thread, so here it goes.

I’m generally a DIY person - home improvement, car maintenance, home IT, etc. My latest DIY endeavor is health, emphasizing tech and data. I’m an engineer by education and health metrics fit my thinking process.

I just got a Kardia Mobile one lead EKG device. So cool. Bluetooth connectivity via mobile device app. It works great and seems like a well made product. It’s the latest health gadget I have added. It joins my Fitbit Versa 2 and an Omron cuff-style non-Bluetooth blood pressure machine, plus the trusty bathroom scale.

All of the hardware devices allow instant measurement at my own convenience, and I plan to start a log in Excel with the data. The engineer is getting excited.

Data collected with the devices:

SpO2
heart rate
blood pressure
EKG
body weight
height (tape measure/yardstick)

The Kardia and Fitbit apps use the data to give a number of assessments (sleep quality, heart rhythm, cardio score (VO2max), BMI, calories burned.

I have also read about self-ordered labs (blood and urine tests). Quest Diagnostics is one provider that offers DIY-ordered labs. The lab results can be added to the collection of home-based measurements.

Is anyone else enthusiastic about the growing ability to collect an increasing amount of increasingly precise health data at home, on demand?

JP10 · 01-13-2021, 08:55 AM

In response to your question, yes and no. I am also an engineering by education, and trade to an extent. I've always liked the ease of accessibility to look at real time data on my Garmin (Vivo active 3). With that said, I've always used it as more of a consistency check rather then to collect and chart data, besides when it comes to running which I would look back and compare. The EKG device that you had mentioned does seem pretty neat, would be interesting in checking it out. The other part of me is a cheap ass that doesn't like to buy anything I don't "need". It would be cool to track the data if I was just starting into fitness, then you could really see some results!

UncleWede · 01-13-2021, 02:32 PM

I use my FB Ionic all the time, but have never quite been sure I understand/trust the sleep metrics. If I only get 5.5 hours of sleep, that certainly should NOT get a score of 85+
I transfer data from the FB (heartrate average) into Runkeeper. I also have a little finger SpO2 that I run a test before/right after running, and even carry it with me for the turn-around. I annotate that and my glucose tests into the RK entry, but I have yet to go back and look at the data.

For my CGM, I enter insulin, carbs, and note exercise where appropriate.

I wish there was a way (other than the conspiracy that Google/AWS already have it all consolidated) where I had a single pane to view it all.

chassis · 01-13-2021, 08:17 PM

JP10 The Kardia EKG device is "only" $90, is easy to use, and appears to be accurate. It does, however, only give generalized assessments such as "Normal" (gee, thanks), so the depth of insights goes only so far. And I can't say that I need it, as much as I think it's cool and got it out of curiosity.

UncleWede For data consolidation, there is always Excel or, heaven forbid, a piece of paper or a whiteboard...

UncleWede · 01-13-2021, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chassis

JP10 The Kardia EKG device is "only" $90, is easy to use, and appears to be accurate. It does, however, only give generalized assessments such as "Normal" (gee, thanks), so the depth of insights goes only so far. And I can't say that I need it, as much as I think it's cool and got it out of curiosity.

UncleWede For data consolidation, there is always Excel or, heaven forbid, a piece of paper or a whiteboard...

I failed out of Engineering in college and got a math degree instead But I DO have Engineering hairline

chassis · 02-27-2021, 12:29 PM

Anyone playing with electronic health gadgets at home?

Fitbit seems to be introducing additional non-pay features. Sleeping breathing rate and skin temperature while sleeping are new data I have noticed. Not sure what these are useful for - does anyone know? The "help" information on Fitbit is useless. They are steering a very wide berth around giving any "insights" or "advice" to avoid (I assume) litigation.

The Kardia device is pretty cool. Very easy to use. They also offer a 6 lead device for $149, not sure what health insights that can provide over the single lead device for $89.

I do a monthly BP reading, which is interesting to see if/how it changes. I learned that body posture (sitting, standing, lying down) has a large affect on BP. I have standardized my body position and am getting more consistent data.

Anyone else data junkies in the home health domain?

chassis · 04-08-2021, 12:31 PM

Super boring, but we just bought a Braun ear digital thermometer, on the suggestion of a health care professional that ear measurements are the most accurate after, well, you know the other measurement. Down there...

I haven't checked whether the Braun has bluetooth or an app. I know that Omron offers bluetooth blood pressure devices. My Omron is an older/simpler version without bluetooth.

I'm probably going to get the 6 lead Kardia ekg device sometime this year. I read an NIH study that suggests the 6 lead device is as effective as a 12 lead device for indicating concerns.

Has anyone started using, or added new, digital DIY home health tools?

UncleWede · 04-08-2021, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chassis

Super boring, but we just bought a Braun ear digital thermometer, on the suggestion of a health care professional that ear measurements are the most accurate after, well, you know the other measurement. Down there...

We expect DETAILED comparison anal-ysis shortly

vreihen16 · 04-08-2021, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleWede

We expect DETAILED comparison anal-ysis shortly

.

chassis · 04-08-2021, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleWede

We expect DETAILED comparison anal-ysis shortly

With or without photos and video?

UncleWede · 04-08-2021, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chassis

With or without photos and video?

Paging MKSixer

MKSixer · 04-08-2021, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleWede

Paging MKSixer

Your request, sir?

UncleWede · 04-08-2021, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MKSixer

Your request, sir?

We need

a shrubbery

no, not a shrubbery, a non-sequitur

wait, wait, no, I think the request was for anal-ysis photography

chassis · 07-04-2021, 03:46 PM

So cool.

I just did an ECG with the Kardia mobile 1-lead device I have had for a while. Easiest thing in the world to do. The device is $89, has its own free app, and is a great piece of hardware and software.

Until today, I had not purchased a one-off "board certified specialist" review of my Kardia ECG. They are $25 each and I generally avoid services and subscriptions. However, curiosity got the better of me and I paid the money and sent the ECG. 20 minutes later I got a report back from a "board certified specialist". Very cool. And on a holiday weekend Sunday. Very impressed. Result was normal btw.

I dug into the "board certified specialist". CompuMed is the company who provides the service, and they state that specialists (a cardiologist in this case) are U.S.-based, insured and credentialed. Feels pretty legitimate to me. https://compumedinc.com/diagnostic-t...ician-network/

The CompuMed service and Kardia device, plus Quest Diagnostic's self-ordered testing menu is the kind of experience I am looking for in healthcare. Does anyone else use DIY self-ordered health diagnostic services or devices, mainly for preventive health management?

3PedalJake · 07-25-2021, 05:14 PM

The most elucidating gadget I ever bought health-wise was a KetoMojo Blood Ketone/Glucose monitor. Your ratio of ketones to glucose has a direct correlation to your level of insulin resistance which correlates to metabolic health. Money well spent IMO.

stardustin86 · 07-25-2021, 11:16 PM

Might be a bit off topic, but anyone here tried a weighted blanket before? Thinking of getting one

chassis · 08-11-2021, 09:07 PM

Got another gadget, the KardiaMobile 6L. It's a 6-lead ECG (EKG) device. It's the next level up from the 1-lead device I got a while back. Awesome gadget, it's easy to use and the ECG can be electronically sent using the mobile app for a cardiologist review. The last time I did this, the cardiologist review came back to me in less than 30 minutes on a Sunday. Pretty good stuff.

Also I just got another set of lab work from Quest. Their online results viewing is excellent, and they chart all of my results over time, because I have used them several times. It's outstanding.

Why am I doing this? Because I can, I am a data and gadget junkie, and want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I also abhor asymmetric information which occurs when a patient has little or no knowledge of how to assess one's own health. Kind of like most people when they walk into a car dealership - huge level of asymmetric information that works to the dealer's advantage. I want to avoid this if I ever find myself in a physician's office.

I suggest other try these and similar devices and DIY self-managed healthcare.

JPSurratt2005 · 08-11-2021, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stardustin86

Might be a bit off topic, but anyone here tried a weighted blanket before? Thinking of getting one

My wife and I really enjoy our weighted blanket. The only downside I've experienced is when lying on my back, you need to keep your feet pointed out instead of straight up, or you'll wake up with sore ankles. I don't know why I prefer sleeping with my feet pointed up but the weight of the blanket makes that an issue.

chassis · 08-13-2021, 05:14 PM

Had another good experience today, this time with an MD via phone consult regarding my recent labs. Great doc, convenient meeting format, she listened and made suggestions that made sense to me.

Telehealth, self directed and ordered lab work, and DIY at home diagnostic gadgets are a way I am comfortable dealing with a broken healthcare delivery system in the US.

Paul Krugman calls the US health system a “howling mess” and William Bernstein says the US has a failed welfare state. I agree with both comments and nevertheless need to extract value from the broken system to the best of my ability.

3PedalJake · 08-14-2021, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chassis

Had another good experience today, this time with an MD via phone consult regarding my recent labs. Great doc, convenient meeting format, she listened and made suggestions that made sense to me.

Telehealth, self directed and ordered lab work, and DIY at home diagnostic gadgets are a way I am comfortable dealing with a broken healthcare delivery system in the US.

Paul Krugman calls the US health system a “howling mess” and William Bernstein says the US has a failed welfare state. I agree with both comments and nevertheless need to extract value from the broken system to the best of my ability.

Wondering if this relates to your Cholesterol question and what insights you may have gained from your consultation.

I also had a recent "TeleMedicine" conference with my ENT, it was productive as a followup visit as he had already physically examined me, it won't replace that but beat a trip to the city just to ask how I'm feeling.

The medical system is beginning to creak and groan under the weight of metabolic syndrome/T2D, and it's not going to get any better any time soon.

chassis · 08-14-2021, 08:20 PM

3PedalJake I’m taking as wide a testing approach as I can, on a DIY basis. I see the healthcare situation having asymmetric information to the detriment of the patient. I’m collecting my own data, so that if/when I want a physician to dig deeper, I will have done my homework first.

Similar to bringing a car to the dealer, another situation where asymmetric information is common to the detriment of the consumer. One approach is to say, “something’s wrong, can you figure it out?” Or saying, “the upper radiator hose is leaking, please replace it, and charge me one hour labor and the parts cost is $50”. I prefer the latter scenario.

I would order myself all kinds of imaging if the cost was palatable and it was available on a DIY basis. For now, blood testing, EKG, and blood oxygen are what I know to be available on a self-directed basis. During the phone consult the physician gave me a recommendation to look into another self directed testing option where there might be a wider test menu available.

3PedalJake · 08-14-2021, 10:21 PM

We have an amazing health care system in some respects like trauma and surgical but a huge amount and increasing is inaptly called "health care", which would better be called "sick maintenance". I try to not be too conspiratorial, but big agra, big pharma and the public servants with their lobbyist friends all have vested interest in you consuming their products, getting sick then staying on permanent and increasing pharmacological maintenance. I'm also on a DIY health journey and one thing I've learned on the way is you have to be your own advocate or you're just another grain falling into the mill, you can't expect anyone to have your interest at heart to the extent they would go outside prescribed guidelines whether they believed it would be good for you or not.

Not sure what your goal is, but if you like to measure things some of the most enlightening are your triglyceride/cholesterol ratio and your fasting glucose/ketone index (GKI) both are accurate indicators of the state of metabolic health.

01-12-2021, 05:14 PM	#1
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	DIY health - tech gadgets, lab work, and more I didn’t see a related thread, so here it goes. I’m generally a DIY person - home improvement, car maintenance, home IT, etc. My latest DIY endeavor is health, emphasizing tech and data. I’m an engineer by education and health metrics fit my thinking process. I just got a Kardia Mobile one lead EKG device. So cool. Bluetooth connectivity via mobile device app. It works great and seems like a well made product. It’s the latest health gadget I have added. It joins my Fitbit Versa 2 and an Omron cuff-style non-Bluetooth blood pressure machine, plus the trusty bathroom scale. All of the hardware devices allow instant measurement at my own convenience, and I plan to start a log in Excel with the data. The engineer is getting excited. Data collected with the devices: SpO2 heart rate blood pressure EKG body weight height (tape measure/yardstick) The Kardia and Fitbit apps use the data to give a number of assessments (sleep quality, heart rhythm, cardio score (VO2max), BMI, calories burned. I have also read about self-ordered labs (blood and urine tests). Quest Diagnostics is one provider that offers DIY-ordered labs. The lab results can be added to the collection of home-based measurements. Is anyone else enthusiastic about the growing ability to collect an increasing amount of increasingly precise health data at home, on demand?
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01-13-2021, 08:55 AM	#2
JP10 Major 2476 Rep 1,143 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: SC iTrader: (0)	In response to your question, yes and no. I am also an engineering by education, and trade to an extent. I've always liked the ease of accessibility to look at real time data on my Garmin (Vivo active 3). With that said, I've always used it as more of a consistency check rather then to collect and chart data, besides when it comes to running which I would look back and compare. The EKG device that you had mentioned does seem pretty neat, would be interesting in checking it out. The other part of me is a cheap ass that doesn't like to buy anything I don't "need". It would be cool to track the data if I was just starting into fitness, then you could really see some results!
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01-13-2021, 02:32 PM	#3
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18430 Rep 9,426 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	I use my FB Ionic all the time, but have never quite been sure I understand/trust the sleep metrics. If I only get 5.5 hours of sleep, that certainly should NOT get a score of 85+ I transfer data from the FB (heartrate average) into Runkeeper. I also have a little finger SpO2 that I run a test before/right after running, and even carry it with me for the turn-around. I annotate that and my glucose tests into the RK entry, but I have yet to go back and look at the data. For my CGM, I enter insulin, carbs, and note exercise where appropriate. I wish there was a way (other than the conspiracy that Google/AWS already have it all consolidated) where I had a single pane to view it all.
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01-13-2021, 08:17 PM	#4
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	JP10 The Kardia EKG device is "only" $90, is easy to use, and appears to be accurate. It does, however, only give generalized assessments such as "Normal" (gee, thanks), so the depth of insights goes only so far. And I can't say that I need it, as much as I think it's cool and got it out of curiosity. UncleWede For data consolidation, there is always Excel or, heaven forbid, a piece of paper or a whiteboard...
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02-27-2021, 12:29 PM	#6
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	Anyone playing with electronic health gadgets at home? Fitbit seems to be introducing additional non-pay features. Sleeping breathing rate and skin temperature while sleeping are new data I have noticed. Not sure what these are useful for - does anyone know? The "help" information on Fitbit is useless. They are steering a very wide berth around giving any "insights" or "advice" to avoid (I assume) litigation. The Kardia device is pretty cool. Very easy to use. They also offer a 6 lead device for $149, not sure what health insights that can provide over the single lead device for $89. I do a monthly BP reading, which is interesting to see if/how it changes. I learned that body posture (sitting, standing, lying down) has a large affect on BP. I have standardized my body position and am getting more consistent data. Anyone else data junkies in the home health domain?
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04-08-2021, 12:31 PM	#7
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	Super boring, but we just bought a Braun ear digital thermometer, on the suggestion of a health care professional that ear measurements are the most accurate after, well, you know the other measurement. Down there... I haven't checked whether the Braun has bluetooth or an app. I know that Omron offers bluetooth blood pressure devices. My Omron is an older/simpler version without bluetooth. I'm probably going to get the 6 lead Kardia ekg device sometime this year. I read an NIH study that suggests the 6 lead device is as effective as a 12 lead device for indicating concerns. Has anyone started using, or added new, digital DIY home health tools?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-04-2021, 03:46 PM	#14
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	So cool. I just did an ECG with the Kardia mobile 1-lead device I have had for a while. Easiest thing in the world to do. The device is $89, has its own free app, and is a great piece of hardware and software. Until today, I had not purchased a one-off "board certified specialist" review of my Kardia ECG. They are $25 each and I generally avoid services and subscriptions. However, curiosity got the better of me and I paid the money and sent the ECG. 20 minutes later I got a report back from a "board certified specialist". Very cool. And on a holiday weekend Sunday. Very impressed. Result was normal btw. I dug into the "board certified specialist". CompuMed is the company who provides the service, and they state that specialists (a cardiologist in this case) are U.S.-based, insured and credentialed. Feels pretty legitimate to me. https://compumedinc.com/diagnostic-t...ician-network/ The CompuMed service and Kardia device, plus Quest Diagnostic's self-ordered testing menu is the kind of experience I am looking for in healthcare. Does anyone else use DIY self-ordered health diagnostic services or devices, mainly for preventive health management? Last edited by chassis; 07-05-2021 at 09:23 AM..
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07-25-2021, 05:14 PM	#15
3PedalJake Neo-Luddite 3409 Rep 1,722 Posts Drives: '06 325i, 330i 6MT RWD Sport Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [5.25]	The most elucidating gadget I ever bought health-wise was a KetoMojo Blood Ketone/Glucose monitor. Your ratio of ketones to glucose has a direct correlation to your level of insulin resistance which correlates to metabolic health. Money well spent IMO.
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07-25-2021, 11:16 PM	#16
stardustin86 Private 60 Rep 75 Posts Drives: M3 & 335i Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Might be a bit off topic, but anyone here tried a weighted blanket before? Thinking of getting one
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08-11-2021, 09:07 PM	#17
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	Got another gadget, the KardiaMobile 6L. It's a 6-lead ECG (EKG) device. It's the next level up from the 1-lead device I got a while back. Awesome gadget, it's easy to use and the ECG can be electronically sent using the mobile app for a cardiologist review. The last time I did this, the cardiologist review came back to me in less than 30 minutes on a Sunday. Pretty good stuff. Also I just got another set of lab work from Quest. Their online results viewing is excellent, and they chart all of my results over time, because I have used them several times. It's outstanding. Why am I doing this? Because I can, I am a data and gadget junkie, and want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I also abhor asymmetric information which occurs when a patient has little or no knowledge of how to assess one's own health. Kind of like most people when they walk into a car dealership - huge level of asymmetric information that works to the dealer's advantage. I want to avoid this if I ever find myself in a physician's office. I suggest other try these and similar devices and DIY self-managed healthcare. Last edited by chassis; 08-11-2021 at 09:20 PM..
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08-13-2021, 05:14 PM	#19
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	Had another good experience today, this time with an MD via phone consult regarding my recent labs. Great doc, convenient meeting format, she listened and made suggestions that made sense to me. Telehealth, self directed and ordered lab work, and DIY at home diagnostic gadgets are a way I am comfortable dealing with a broken healthcare delivery system in the US. Paul Krugman calls the US health system a “howling mess” and William Bernstein says the US has a failed welfare state. I agree with both comments and nevertheless need to extract value from the broken system to the best of my ability.
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08-14-2021, 08:20 PM	#21
chassis Colonel 8079 Rep 2,501 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	3PedalJake I’m taking as wide a testing approach as I can, on a DIY basis. I see the healthcare situation having asymmetric information to the detriment of the patient. I’m collecting my own data, so that if/when I want a physician to dig deeper, I will have done my homework first. Similar to bringing a car to the dealer, another situation where asymmetric information is common to the detriment of the consumer. One approach is to say, “something’s wrong, can you figure it out?” Or saying, “the upper radiator hose is leaking, please replace it, and charge me one hour labor and the parts cost is $50”. I prefer the latter scenario. I would order myself all kinds of imaging if the cost was palatable and it was available on a DIY basis. For now, blood testing, EKG, and blood oxygen are what I know to be available on a self-directed basis. During the phone consult the physician gave me a recommendation to look into another self directed testing option where there might be a wider test menu available. Last edited by chassis; 08-14-2021 at 08:25 PM..
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08-14-2021, 10:21 PM	#22
3PedalJake Neo-Luddite 3409 Rep 1,722 Posts Drives: '06 325i, 330i 6MT RWD Sport Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [5.25]	We have an amazing health care system in some respects like trauma and surgical but a huge amount and increasing is inaptly called "health care", which would better be called "sick maintenance". I try to not be too conspiratorial, but big agra, big pharma and the public servants with their lobbyist friends all have vested interest in you consuming their products, getting sick then staying on permanent and increasing pharmacological maintenance. I'm also on a DIY health journey and one thing I've learned on the way is you have to be your own advocate or you're just another grain falling into the mill, you can't expect anyone to have your interest at heart to the extent they would go outside prescribed guidelines whether they believed it would be good for you or not. Not sure what your goal is, but if you like to measure things some of the most enlightening are your triglyceride/cholesterol ratio and your fasting glucose/ketone index (GKI) both are accurate indicators of the state of metabolic health.
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