How we measure, diagnose, monitor
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We’re standing at the threshold of the bionic era — where hardware and software seamlessly weave into daily life. We’re not quite at screwdriver-for-a-finger Cyberpunk territory, but wearables, at-home diagnostics, and tracking software are rapidly becoming part of how we manage our health.
Tracking health metrics isn’t new. Elite athletes, soldiers, astronauts, F1 drivers… anyone where a 1% difference in a critical metric, have done it for decades. What’s new is that it’s mainstream. Twenty years ago, VO₂ max and HRV were niche stats; today, my dad tracks them (he’s not an F1 driver, but he’s just as cool, trust me). The shift happened thanks to better tech, more accessible health information, and a culturally seismic pandemic.
COVID-19 pushed consumers back into the driver’s seat. With rising distrust in the medical system, people turned to the internet and influencers for answers. At-home COVID tests normalized medicine from the living room. Micro-influencers turned data into content, fueling curiosity (and sometimes fear). Technology democratized access to metrics once reserved for pros. Then in 2022, ChatGPT opened an entirely new layer of personalized interpretation.
This convergence of catalyst + tech + culture has created the era of the empowered health consumer. Forty-four percent of Americans now own a health wearable, and ~35–40% use health apps. The focus is shifting from reactive sick care to proactive self-care. The medical system has largely conquered acute infectious diseases, but the “four horsemen” of chronic illness — heart disease, cancer, metabolic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration — remain. People see the fragility of aging parents and ask: How do I avoid that?
This section is about answering that question. Using tracking to build a baseline, enabling a more preventative, data-driven approach to health. What gets measured gets managed… but only if we manage what matters.
There are downsides and caveats to this notion. Tests are not always 100% accurate. Even if they are, sometimes there cannot be anything done about the information. A test can say someone is 16% more likely to develop Alzheimers. Yes, they can take action today to get more sleep and improve cognitive function, but will the fear of the potential of a problem do more harm than having the information?
A great example is when Dr. Matt Kaeberlein took 8 different epigentic (biological age) tests (4 tests, 2 times each) at the exact same time. You can see the results below.
As we enter this data-driven era, the expertise of our doctors and medical system is more important now than ever. It is amazing that people are collecting their own health data. However, it’s critically important that they work with an expert to understand the information and create the right plan to maximize their healthspan.
Once limited to counting steps, wearables have evolved into multi-sensor health hubs that continuously track metrics like heart rate, HRV, SpO₂, temperature, sleep quality, and activity strain.