Many of us are aware of personal health tracking. Smartwatches, other wearables, and their corresponding apps are increasingly popular as more of us take charge of our own health. Having more control over our own health is of utmost importance, especially in the midst of a Canadian healthcare system crisis.
According to a Canadian study authored by Guy Paré, Research Chair in Digital Health, HEC Montreal, over 66% of survey respondents kept track of something related to their health, with most of them using some kind of device to aid them in doing so.
We might think of Fitbits and Apple Watches as our first options in health tracking, but did you know there are a plethora of Canadian health trackers available on the market?
If you’re part of the 86% of Canadians who prioritise finding local or small Canadian businesses to support your community, look no further. Utilising these domestic products gives you power over your own health while supporting Canadian innovators. It is a great way to integrate health with social consciousness.
Four Innovative Canadian health trackers to check out today:
HeartWatch collects and analyses users’ Apple Watch data so users can learn what their sleep patterns, heart rate, and activity levels mean for their wellness.
Muse is an assistant to guide meditation.
Hexoskin makes Smart Clothing with built-in technology that can record heart rate and variability, breathing rate and volume, calories, step-count and sleep activity.
iMerciv seeks to empower the visually impaired around the world through the development of technological solutions.
HeartWatch
Toronto-based company HeartWatch was founded in 2015 by two 12th graders Andre Bertram and Frank Nguyen in collaboration with Toronto Metropolitan University and St. Michael’s Hospital.
HeartWatch was originally a watch-like device that would continuously monitor the user’s heart and blood vitals, with the idea originating from Nguyen’s concern over his mother’s heart health.
HeartWatch has since evolved into a sophisticated mobile health app. It collects and analyses users’ Apple Watch data so users can learn what their sleep patterns, heart rate, and activity levels mean for their wellness.
HeartWatch helps turn your health data into something meaningful.
Check out this product at the official website: https://heartwatch.tantsissa.com/
Muse
University of Toronto Alumni Ariel Garten and Chris Aimone co-founded Muse, working with Toronto-based company InteraXon.
Muse assists with guided meditation, a practice which has been studied to potentially reduce stress and improve mental health. The product is a headband that uses electroencephalogram (EEG) sensors, which utilise biofeedback to train your brain into adopting more focused thoughts.
The headband connects to a mobile app which presents a collection of meditation sessions to listen to. As you focus your thoughts, “peaceful weather” sounds are played. Any time you drift off, Muse will detect this and begin playing “stormy weather” noises to bring you back.
Improvement of sleep is another feature Muse advertises, with meditations sessions designed for this purpose. Muse can administer users a “Digital Sleeping Pill” that makes falling asleep easy. EEG sleep tracking and insights are also available on the app.
Muse promises better sleep performance, reduced stress, and increased overall happiness.
Check out this product at the official website: https://choosemuse.com
Hexoskin
In 2006, Pierre Fournier and Jean-Francois Roy founded Hexoskin, a Montreal-founded company with headquarters in the Rosemont Petite-Patrie neighbourhood. Hexoskin is a growing leader in data science and non-invasive sensors.
At the time of founding, technology that continuously produced detailed health reports didn’t exist, so the two Hexoskin founders sought to change this. Hexoskin makes Smart Clothing with built-in technology that can record heart rate and variability, breathing rate and volume, calories, step-count and sleep activity.
Users connect their garments to the Hexoskin health platforms to visualise and understand their health measurements in real-time.
Hexoskin’s Smart Clothing is washable and comes in different sizes for men, women and children. These breathable, comfortable, lightweight garments come with built-in UV protection and resistance against chlorine and odour.
Hexoskin is an innovative, non-invasive means to track various health data.
Check out this product at the official website: https://www.hexoskin.com/
iMerciv
Arjun Mali and Bai Liu founded iMerciv in 2014. Inspired by Liu’s father, who has inoperable glaucoma, the Toronto-based company seeks to empower the visually impaired with technological solutions.
iMerciv’s primary product is the BuzzClip, a wearable for those with vision impairments to aid them in mobility. The BuzzClip accurately detects nearby surroundings using ultrasound sensors. Users can set their desired range (between 1m – 3m) on the BuzzClip and will be notified with a vibration if there is an object within the user’s immediate surroundings.
The BuzzClip can be used alone if the person has partial blindness or alongside canes as a complement. Furthermore, users can attach multiple BuzzClips to various areas of the body at once for heightened awareness of one’s surroundings.
iMerciv made sure to create a product with their customer in mind, with practicality and functionality as its priority.
Check out this product at the official website: https://imerciv.com/
These products are only a small portion of the Canadian health tracking goods on the market. As we find more ways to make our own informed decisions on our health, it’s safe to say that health wearables and trackers aren’t going away any time soon. With these Canadian-founded products, feel good supporting your health while supporting your country.
The information provided on TheHealthInsider.ca is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. TheHealthInsider.ca advises consulting a medical professional or healthcare provider when seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.