iPhone 6: Lifesaver? Apple's Integration into the Health Care Market

With the live stream of the highly anticipated Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus release taking place today, there is a lot of buzz in regards to the larger screen sizes, dramatically slimmer model and curved cover glass. What you should be excited for, however, is the plethora of health-related features that will come with the launch on September 19.

As Apple puts it, “it’s a comprehensive health and fitness companion.”

Patient-Doctor File Sharing

Out of the 1.3 million apps available on the iPhone, one of the most impressive is HealthKit. The application, which can also monitor your caffeine intake and heart rate, gives patients the capability of sending compiled data to doctors.

All-Day Fitness Tracker

“The Apple Watch is designed to help anyone who wears it lead a healthier life by being more active,” said Jay Blahnik. Integrated with the HealthKit platform, the Apple Watch measures three aspects of movement: Move, Exercise and Stand.

Real-Time Workout Statistics

The Workout app on the Apple Watch displays real-time stats such as calories, time, distance and pace for individual workouts. You can set goals, chart your progress and earn awards as you track specific workouts such as walking, running and cycling.

Heart Rate/Pulse Monitoring

Infrared and visible-light LED’s, along with photosensors, on the Apple Watch detect a wearer’s heart rate. The tracking and storage of an individual’s heart rate and pulse information in BPM (beats per minute) could prove invaluable to those who suffer from arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats.

Weight Management

Another equally as impressive app is Healthbook. Of its three primary tabs dedicated to fitness tracking is weight. Statistics like BMI (Body Mass Index) and body fat percentage can be calculated upon entering your height and weight and progress can be tracked daily, weekly, monthly and yearly.

Diet Intake

Said app can also monitor what you put in your mouth and how it affects your overall health. Keeping a log of your diet choices will also allow users to make changes where needed and be conscious of the choices they are making.

Blood Sugar (Glucose) Tracking

Approximately 26 million individuals in the United States have diabetes, according to a 2013 statistic from the American Diabetes Association. The application Healthbook offers the option to track a user’s blood sugar levels and notify him/her of any unusual spikes or drops.

Emergency Contact Information Storage

A feature in the Healthbook app allows users to store their name, birthdate, medication information, weight, eye color, blood type, organ donor status and location. This information is critical for an emergency technician, doctor or hospital staffer who may need to identify and treat a patient if they fall ill and are unable to speak for themselves.

Hiking Experience

A barometer rooted in the iPhone 6’s system will be able to sense air pressure and measure relative elevation, determining if you are going up molehills or mountains.

Sleep Cycle Monitoring

Healthbook will have the ability to track sleep cycles and, based on rumors, be able to produce algorithms to track movement during sleep and provide users with graphs to present sleep quality over time.