Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies at UT Health San Antonio

Your diet can have a big impact. Here are 5 foods Fitbit suggests adding to your plate:

Stressed Out? Adding These 5 Foods to Your Plate May Help: https://bit.ly/3njlOH9

Interesting research from the NIH!

Lack of sleep in middle age may increase dementia risk People who slept six hours or less per night in their 50s and 60s were more likely to develop dementia later in life.

Invest in your mental health and relieve your stress >> Scientifically validated, naturally powerful

Great resource from the local San Antonio Alzheimer's Association. Our research at the Smart Center also looks to support caregivers!

Do you know someone caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or related dementia?

We have 2 Caregiver Support Groups for family members meeting each Second and Fourth Monday of the month. This month's dates are: March 8, 2021 and March 22, 2021. These are free, safe, confidential calls (on zoom) where you can receive support and care. We have an excellent trained social worker facilitating the group.

You can also register by clicking the links below:

March 8, 2021: http://bit.ly/CGSPMAR0821
March 22, 2021: http://bit.ly/CGSPMAR2221

You can also go to alz.org/crf to register

* You can join the group by video or phone.
* To Register and Receive Instructions on How to Access the Group Please Call 800.272.3900

Very interesting!

Gatorade's Gx Sweat Patch delivers hydration, fitness guidance to athletes' phones The disposable adhesive patches measure biomarkers like sweat and sodium loss, which are combined with external fitness and nutrition data to generate personalized workout and recovery recommendations.

Adding blood glucose tracking to the Fitbit app is a great addition, and will assist us in our current research projects! Thanks Fitbit

Fitbit adds blood glucose tracking to its connected app Users can import their blood sugar data automatically by connecting with their LifeScan OneTouch Reveal app or by manually logging their levels.

Visit Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy and check out the largest wildlife crossing constructed to date in the United States! Connect with nature with climbs through the treetops leading to the land bridge and amenities such as wildlife viewing blinds. https://bit.ly/3r64Ygh

We love hearing about new trails and green spaces to walk at!

New nature project could bring 100-mile hiking trail connecting San Antonio and Austin The Great Springs Project is hoping to bring a proposed 100-mile hiking trail that will connect four major springs between Austin and San Antonio.

Don't forget to wear your activity tracker or smart devices when physically active,this can be an interactive way to track your progress!

Being physically active is one of the best things you can do for your health. Exercise and physical activity are not only great for your mental and physical health, but they can help keep you independent as you age. Find tips to help you get started! https://go.usa.gov/x7mFR

We aim to support caregivers in many different ways! Thank you for all of the care you provide, and don't forget to take time, or little breaks throughout the day for yourself.

November is National Family Caregivers Month! Taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. Try to make time for yourself, keep up with hobbies, stay active, & ask for help when you need it. Find more tips here: https://bit.ly/3loFNm8

How to Share Caregiving Responsibilities with Family Members Caring for a parent or another older relative or friend often requires teamwork. Learn how to work effectively to ensure good care and support caregiver health.

Thank you National Institute of Aging for the great reminder! We are also passionate about this topic and integrate helping others make smart food choices into our work at the Smart Center here at UT Health San Antonio.

Make healthy food choices part of your daily life! To encourage healthy eating patterns, the Dietary Guidelines suggests that you focus on variety, nutrient density, and amount, shift to healthier food and beverage choices, and limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats, and reduce sodium intake, among other things. https://go.usa.gov/x7rmB

Telehealth can be a great way to expand access to care, but it is important to address any inequalities, whether ethnic, location, disease related, or other factors. Good article to help stimulate thinking about these factors, as we further study and use Telehealth.

Study reveals inequalities in telehealth usage across demographic groups Researchers from Kantar Health suggest that as telehealth services continue to be used, inequalities in access and usage should be monitored to find ways to close healthcare gaps.

September is National Cholesterol Education month! Some wearable devices have the ability to track diet and break down what exactly is in the food you eat can be a great way to help watch dietary cholesterol.

We still have a couple of weight scales and glucose meters left in our COVID-19 Response Fund. If interested, use the link in the post below to access and fill out the survey.

Happy for our colleagues here at UT Health San Antonio who keep progressing science and medicine.

A San Antonio Hospital Is The World’s Largest Study Site For A COVID-19 Drug In High Demand University Hospital’s lead researcher said Remdesivir can reduce patient recovery time and free up hospital beds — but there’s not enough to go around.

This wireless and Bluetooth device acts as a stethoscope, except it transmits heart sounds to the headphones of the physician. This eliminates the need for touching of the face or re-arranging PPE, keeping healthcare staff safer during this time.

Eko Wireless Stethoscopes Free Shipping. Try for 30-days.

Daily life and routines have changed.

Dr. Patel's research group from UT Health San Antonio is conducting this research survey.

The purpose of this survey is to assess and compare activities, and routines of your daily life before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. YOUR ANONYMITY IS GUARANTEED. We will not collect any data that will individually identify you.

Stay safe and please take our survey at https://j.mp/3iKYXSb

Schedule your appointment today.

Study: Abbott's FreeStyle Libre 14-day system cuts diabetes management costs A new study published in US Endocrinology found Abbott’s continuous glucose monitoring system, the FreeStyle Libre, demonstrated significant cost savings for diabetic care compared to traditional fingerstick testing.

At the Smart Center, we do a lot of research with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. These online support groups are a great resource offered by the Biggs Insititue, which is also located here at UT Health San Antonio!

Caring for a Parent with Dementia Support Group - Biggs Institute Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be a difficult time for patients and their family members. At the Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases, support groups are available to help provide support and tools for coping and handling the diagnosis.

We're giving away free wearable and remote monitoring health devices (pulse oximeters, fitness trackers, blood pressure monitors, glucose meters, and guided meditation headbands to reduce stress) to diagnosed COVID-19 patients or high-risk individuals including seniors, persons with chronic conditions, and their caregivers, to help you monitor health for you and your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. These devices are brought to you by the Center on Smart and Connected Health Technologies (https://www.uthscsa.edu/academics/nursing/research/center-smart-connected-health-tech) and a grant from the COVID-19 Response Fund, a community fund jointly managed by the San Antonio Area Foundation and the United Way of San Antonio. The fund is comprised of nearly 30 caring businesses, donor advised funds, philanthropic foundations, and government entities.

Devices will be delivered to you free of charge. Click here to take the survey and sign up for a device! (https://redcap.uthscsa.edu/REDCap/surveys/?s=HT7FEJ3D8P)

Electrocardiogram Monitoring Cleared for Galaxy Watch Active2 by South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety Electrocardiogram monitoring joins blood pressure measurement in receiving clearance, making the Galaxy Watch Active2 Samsung’s most informed and convenient health tracker yet

This is a great resource from MIT using technology to connect everyone during this pandemic. Free science seminars from around the globe are posted for anyone interested.

A Ticketmaster for science seminars Despite physical isolation, MIT mathematicians build one-stop portal to online talks around the world.

NIH encourages women to make their health a high priority, during and always, especially during the pandemic. The NIH Office of Research on Women's Health and the HHS Office on Women’s Health offer resources that can help women improve their physical and psychological well-being and build positive health habits for life. See https://go.usa.gov/xvmju and https://go.usa.gov/xvmDc.

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