Digital Blood Pressure Monitor
A digital blood pressure monitor is one of the most important medical supplies you can own. There are many brands that sell these devices, but they all do the same thing – measure your blood pressure by putting a small device next to your arm or wrist.
The device will then use what fluid goes into your body as an indicator for how high your blood pressure is. Many people already have this equipment, but if you don’t it can be quite expensive!
That’s why I would recommend buying your first digital blood pressure monitor at a store where they can help you choose which model is best for you. You wouldn’t buy a car without test driving it, so make sure you know what things look like before you invest in this piece of health gear.
Pulse oximeter
A pulse oximeter is an easy to use device that checks your blood oxygen levels. Oxygen levels play a significant role in how well someone can function before they become too low or absent of enough oxygen, which could be due to poor circulation, smoking, obesity, or other health conditions.
Most people are aware of what a heart monitor is and how to use it to check for irregularities. A second type of monitor checks for lower oxygen levels by placing sensors onto any part of the body with thin layers of tissue that do not have much blood flow (for example, our fingertip).
These monitors usually go up to at least 100 feet so if you find yourself stranded outside help will need to know if your friend/family member has their level of oxygen checked. Most cost around $50-100 but some companies offer discounts online or through there customer service representatives.
There are many brands that make quality pulse oximeters and each one works slightly differently. Make sure you know what settings each one has before buying as some may require professional training to calibrate properly.
Glucometer
Glucose testing is one of the major functions of every doctor’s office, at least in America. A blood glucose test checks your blood sugar level by detecting glucose (a simple carbohydrate) that has entered your body.
Many people have diabetes, which is an abnormality in how their bodies process glucose. Some people are genetically predisposed to get this disease, but it can also be caused by obesity or other health conditions like stress.
Diabetes raises your risk for having heart problems, stroke, blindness, and/or death. Therefore, knowing your own personal glucose levels is very important in staying healthy.
Fortunately, there are many ways to do this easily at home with a glucometer. A glucometer is a device used to measure your blood glucose level. There are several types depending on what information you want to know.
Some only tell you whether you have either high blood glucose or low blood glucose, while others will actually write down what type of medication you need to take to bring your glucose down. The last kind are called actionable glucometers because they can help you find out why your blood glucose is too high.
Actionable glucometers are more expensive than those that just tell you if you should start taking medicine or not, but they are much better tools when trying to diagnose a problem and determine the best treatment.
Inhaler machine
An inhaler device is one of the most important pieces of equipment you will need to manage your asthma. These are very common now, even being designed and manufactured by companies with no affiliation to big pharmacy vendors!
In fact, many people believe that they make better quality devices than those originally made by large pharmaceutical companies. This is great because it means there are more options for different types of medication and doses!
Many patients find them helpful in maintaining their control over their disease while also saving money since these have no overhead costs or expensive maintenance fees.
There are two main categories of inhalers: pressurized metered-dose aerosol (pMDI) and dry powder dispensed using an electronic device (DPI). The best kind depends on what type of attack you are having and how well each works for you.
Some people only respond to pMDIs so if this is your worst symptom then do not waste your resources on another style unless you know someone who can help you determine which one would be most effective for you.
We recommend trying out both styles before making your choice as some people just get good results from either one. It does take practice to use properly though, so make sure you get enough time to learn how to master yours.
General & misc
Medical equipment and supplies can be expensive, which is why it is so important to know what items are necessary for your self-care. Luckily, you do not need too many general or miscellaneous (GM) health products to start feeling more prepared in case of an emergency.
The most essential GM healthcare goods include: first aid kits, sun protection, hand sanitizer, non-perishable foods, diapers, toilet paper, plastic sheeting, roll-on shower gel, and blankets. All of these things can be picked up at any large grocery store or drugstore that has adequate supply.
Many hospitals and clinics have donation bins for these types of resources as well. It is always helpful to check before heading out to buy anything new!
General wellness products such as yoga mats, towels, and workout clothes can also be donated directly from the source.
Diagnostic equipment
One of the biggest things that people struggle with when starting a new health plan or changing their current one is diagnostic testing.
Most major hospitals and clinics have at least some sort of test you can do to see if your symptoms indicate an illness. These tests are usually done through a provider, either in a hospital or clinic setting or via a private company that has a contract with the facility.
Some examples of these tests include: blood work, urinalysis, allergy tests, X-rays, and MRI scans. All of these depend on what area of medicine they’re used for, but all require appropriate training to read properly and use correctly.
Medical professionals must go through extensive education including certification and/or licensure before performing such tests. Unfortunately, due to cost, not every practitioner has access to this advanced knowledge. This is where buying online shopping sites comes in handy as you can find and purchase the necessary equipment without needing direct professional contact!
Online shopping sites like Amazon make it easy to find virtually anything you need for self-diagnosis. Some of the more expensive items may be better quality than those sold by other sellers, but overall the experience is the same! Before going into debt though, make sure to compare prices across multiple sources.
Essential medications list
Many health professionals create an essential medication list, which includes all of the drugs that are considered important for overall wellness and disease management.
This list changes depending on what stage of treatment you are in, but many include anti-malaria medicines, birth control, antibiotics, pain relievers, antidepressants, thyroid supplements, eye drops, oral contraceptives, inhalers, and nasal sprays.
These items should be basic needs — something that you cannot do without to stay healthy or get back onto track after symptoms emerge.
Many people don’t know how to identify if they run out of an item on this list, or even if they can find it locally. Some facilities have surplus quantities, while others might not have any at all!
In fact, we found one hospital where there was almost nothing left when we visited several weeks later. It’s crucial to make sure your family doesn’t go hungry or without vital medicine due to a lack of availability. – Health Department
{HN} This isn’t just limited to major illnesses either. Sometimes things like stress balls help ease tension and reduce anxiety so someone may feel more able to deal with their situation.
Bone & joint
The next major need in medical equipment is for bone and joints. You can make your own gel trays to hold sore feet while at rest or during sleep, which are very helpful when moving around more frequently later!
Many people suffer from osteoarthritis, where their joints become inflamed due to excessive use over time. Finding soft tissue padding such as foam rollers that help reduce inflammation and pain is an easy way to aid in self-care while also helping with the re-hab process.
These are not only great for arthritic sufferers but also healthier individuals who may experience muscle tightness and/or aches caused by overexertion. We all require adequate mobility of our bones and muscles to survive so feeling restricted can be quite frustrating.
Fortunately, there are many ways to improve the mobility of our limbs and increase overall fitness without expensive professional grade products. By investing in some basic wellness tools, you’ll have something apply immediately towards this goal.
Cuts & soft tissue
One of the most important things to have in any first aid situation is cuts and skin-soft tissue (muscle, fat, or other internal tissues). If you don’t have these, trying to heal the wound could make it worse.
Most people are familiar with how to treat wounds by pulling off loose dirt or hairs as well as apply some kind of sterile dressing to prevent infection. But what about bleeding?
Bleeding can be caused from many different sources — broken bones being the most common. Sometimes there is no source for the bleed so care should be taken not to put pressure onto the area or use direct touch sterilization methods such as using a piece of cloth or paper that you can throw away later.
Medical professionals call this dressings that bind and help stop blood flow “packet materials” because they are usually made of gauze or fabric. These packets are often used when treating gunshot injuries or knife wounds where there is risk of contamination.