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HEALTH&FITNESS
February15
PSYCHED TO CYCLE
Cycle Asia Singapore
is back for its seventh
instalment from 10 to 12 April, with a range
of ride categories including The Super
Challenge (60K), The Challenge (40K), The
Community Ride (20K), The Kids’ Ride (5K)
and The Tricycle Ride (150m) – all starting
and finishing at the F1 Pit Building. New
enhancements to this year’s event include
safety briefings at the start line to encourage
safer cycling, plus lane dividers, more
signage and additional medical personnel
along the route. Also new is compulsory
qualification for The Super Challenge to
ensure that only those with suitable abilities
can participate in the elite category. Register
at
cycleasia.com
.
RUN
FOR THE PLANET
Back for the fifth year in a row,
NTUC
Income Run 350
will take place on 5 April
offering half-marathon (21K) and 10K routes,
plus an 800m Kids’ Dash. Organised by
Young NTUC, the event is Southeast Asia’s
premier eco-run in support of the global
350.org movement, which aims to create
a sense of urgency and draw attention to
the climate crisis and the need to lower
atmospheric CO2 levels to 350 parts per
million, which many scientists believe is the
level required for the Earth’s sustainability.
Flag-off is at the F1 Pit Building at 5am.
Register by 28 February at
run350.com
.
FIVE DIGITAL HEALTH
TRENDS FOR 2015
In a recent article by US news site Mashable
(republished by CNN), experts discuss the rapidly
growing interest in digital health, and forecast
the trends we’ll be seeing in the coming year, as
more and more consumers choose to track their
wellbeing. Here’s a sneak peek at what we can
expect in the health tech space this year.
1. Ear Devices
Forget clip-on trackers and bracelets, and
look forward to ear-based devices for a more
unobtrusive and, apparently, more accurate
experience. In fact, ear-based devices are already being introduced,
offering benefits like real-time blood pressure, respiration rates and
oxygen saturation, in addition to the typical readings of heart rate and
steps taken.
2. Sweat Sensor Strips
Soon, you’ll be able to track your internal biochemistry with a biosensor
strip. Electrozyme, for instance, is developing a flexible strip sensor
that’s inserted into the back of your wearable device and measures
the metabolic substances secreted in your sweat, allowing you to track
your electrolyte balance, hydration level, muscle exertion and physical
performance. The advantage? You’ll gain more insight into your body
chemistry and how it’s responding to your workout.
3. Smartphone Case Devices
Soon, your smartphone case will be able to do double-duty as a medical
device. In fact, there are already iPhone cases out there (AliveCor and
Azoi’s Wello, for example) that allow you to record vitals like ECG, heart
rate, blood oxygen saturation levels, respiration and temperature. More
devices are set to become available this year, once they pass the US FDA
approval process.
4. Prescription-only Apps
Soon, some health apps may require prescriptions. One example is
WellDoc’s BlueStar, the first “mobile prescription therapy” for people
with type 2 diabetes. Patients enter data on glucose levels, diet, exercise
and more, and BlueStar analyses it before providing feedback, as
well as detailed summaries to patients’ physicians prior to office visits.
Impressive! This year, look out for more mobile prescription therapies like
this.
5. Healthier Lighting
Having trouble falling asleep after staring at your iPad in bed? Blame it on
the blue light emitted from your device – it’s 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. This year, we’ll see
a greater focus on the effects of artificial light on health, and product
innovations like wearable devices to track daily exposure to bright light
and UV light.
Read the full article at
mashable.com
.
C oming Up