Vtuls is a new self-monitoring health and wellness device that monitors the key vital signs of blood pressure, oxygen saturation, body temperature, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and total hemoglobin count, as well as the user’s fitness activity. It addresses health issues ranging from chronic physical and psychological diseases to diabetes, heart conditions and hypertension.
Data is then fed into the Vtuls app, which is followed by a qualified health coach who will be able to detect any potential health issues possibly before the user would otherwise be aware. Modern medicine often focuses on cure rather than prevention and the risks of leading an unhealthy lifestyle, which perhaps are not as widely understood. Changing that perspective has become a major mission of Dr. Robert Kelly, chief medical officer of fitness and wellness monitoring service for Vtuls.
Vtuls components.
While a recent study suggested that cholesterol plays no part in heart disease, Kelly believes this is not entirely true and people still should look at reducing cholesterol to help prevent illnesses. It’s been reported that cardiovascular disease causes more than a quarter (27 percent) of all deaths in the U.K., for example.
“The recent report from BMJ highlights a provocative commentary that high cholesterol is not associated with mortality,” Kelly said. “That may be the case in selected circumstances, but we all know high cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular mortality, heart attacks and strokes. So, as European, UK and USA guidelines emphasize, we should lower weight, limit excess fat and sugar intake, exercise at least 120 minutes per week, limit alcohol consumption, stop smoking, prevent diabetes and hypertension, and get checked out medically to avoid our own risk of heart disease and strokes.”
He added that scientific, unbiased, randomized clinical trials show a strong cardiovascular mortality reduction for secondary prevention of heart disease by taking cholesterol lowering drugs across all ages. The BMJ article, while provocative, is based on a very selective biased view of evidence, both by some of the authors and their study design, rather than a truly comprehensive unbiased systematic review.”
According to the British Heart Foundation, 155,000 people die of cardiovascular disease (CVD) every year in the U.K., which can equate to 425 people a day, or one person dying every three minutes. It has also been claimed that cardiovascular disease has a huge economic effect on the country, including indirect costs from premature death and disability, estimated to be over £15 billion ($22 billion) each year, with healthcare costs alone estimated at up to £11 billion ($16 billion) a year.
Cardiovascular disease and health is something that also is very close to Jas Saini, founder and creator of Vtuls. After relocating from India, Jas’s mother was diagnosed with high cholesterol and high blood pressure, following a poor diet and lack of exercise. Heart disease followed, with his mother dying in her 50s due to a second stroke.
Jas himself has also suffered illness as a child after being diagnosed with polio, which can cause paralysis. Luckily for Jas he didn’t suffer permanent paralysis, but did loose a lot of muscle in his leg, which in turn became very weak. This, however, did not stop him from turning to sports, and through regular exercise he has been able to complete marathons and continues to live an active life, playing squash and running regularly.
“The purpose of Vtuls is to marry the data from fitness trackers with advice from healthcare professionals,” Jas Saini commented. “It takes every individual’s complete health data and turns it into information that can help you to take control of your bodyweight, fitness levels and potential health problems such as CVD. Using such a health tool can help you to highlight and treat potential problems possibly before you notice any symptoms, thereby leading to a longer and healthier life.”
Vtuls is currently running a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo to launch the service starting in the U.K.
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(Note: MDT neither endorses nor recommends any efforts to raise development funds.)
