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Technology That Keeps You Healthy
Video
They say if you don't have your health, you don't have anything—but staying healthy can be hard work! On this episode of "Tech Talk," we take a look at health technologies as well as try to decipher the wealth of health information online.
Guests
Mary Jo Kreitzer
Mary Jo Kreitzer
Mary Jo Kreitzer is the founder and director of the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota. This interdisciplinary center coordinates integrative health and medicine programs and initiatives in the Medical School, School of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, and other units throughout the Academic Health Center.
In addition to her administrative responsibilities in the Center for Spirituality and Healing, Mary Jo teaches courses in research and optimal healing environments in the graduate minor in complementary therapies and healing practices, and is a tenured professor in the School of Nursing. Dr. Kreitzer earned her doctoral degree in health services research and her master's and bachelor's degrees in nursing, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. She serves as the vice chair of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine.
Dr. Mike Aylward
Dr. Mike Aylward
Dr. Mike Aylward is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota's Medical School. He also practices internal medicine and pediatrics in the University of Minnesota Primary Care Center. In addition, he is the chair of the Physicians Informatics Committee at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.
Links
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services—through healthfinder.gov—offers a good place to start on a health-related Web search. Their site is dedicated to providing reliable health information and is sponsored by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
Taking Charge of Your Health is the site that Mary Jo Kreitzer demonstrated on the show. It is free to the public and can be used to create your own plan for personal well-being.
Biofeedback
According to Taking Charge of Your Health, biofeedback trains patients to observe shifts in their bodily functions (i.e., heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, muscular tension, and brain activity) by using electronic monitors. With this focus, patients learn to adapt and modify their mental and emotional responses to alleviate symptoms and regulate specific conditions.
Complementary Therapies
According to Taking Charge of Your Health, complementary therapies are healing practices that fall outside purely pharmaceutical or surgical treatments. Some examples are massage, meditation, acupuncture, and healing touch.
Pace Calculator
A tool that determines your pace (i.e., average speed for a specified distance).