5 Essential Diagnostic Tools To Keep Handy At Home

What are diagnostic tools? Do we use these only at hospitals or clinics for medical measurements? The simple answer to this question is NO. Diagnostic tools are extremely important and a few of these have to be kept at home as well. Particularly if you have high-risk individuals or aged people at home, having these tools is a prerequisite. 

The COVID times have shown us that without these basic diagnostic tools, the health and safety of your family members might be compromised heavily. Why do we need this? Having the diagnostic tools handy at home ensures that you can get that immediate redressal and care that everyone might need. 

The List of Most Essential Diagnostic Tools to Keep At Home

Some of the most important diagnostic tools that you should keep at home under all circumstances and know how to administer them are:

• Thermometer

The first and most important diagnostic tool that is used by all irrespective of age is none other than the thermometer. The good thing about this tool is that it can be used very easily and by anyone without any formal training. As of now, there are two variants of thermometers available in the market. One is the mercury thermometer which is traditional and reads the temperature of an individual based on the rise in the mercury level. The other option is the more advanced and easy-to-use digital thermometer. 

Currently, digital thermometers are much more popular to use. Some of the major reasons behind this are the ease of use as well as the accuracy they bring on board. Digital thermometers are a bit more expensive than mercury thermometers, however, they are long-lasting. Each and every household needs a thermometer which is reliable and can help one to monitor fever. If the fever rises too much then the intervention of a medical expert is important. 

• Blood Pressure Monitor

Blood pressure monitors are used widely not only in hospitals or clinics, but at the same time they should be kept handy at home as well. High blood pressure is a silent killer and hence if you have someone at home battling through the same, this tool is extremely important. It will help you monitor the spikes and ensure that you are able to provide immediate care to the person to avoid any kind of stroke or heart attack.  Not only that, you will notice that once you get diagnosed with this, most physicians will also ask you to have a monitor handy at home. 

There are different types of blood pressure monitors available and based on the one that suits your usability, you can pick the perfect machine. There are the manual ones which need to be pumped. Along with that, there are the digital ones as well which are highly advanced and work on their own. These machines are quite accurate as well and you will be able to get the readings in just an hour. If there are spikes, you can get in touch with your doctor at the earliest and they will guide you through the rest. 

• Pulse Oximeter

If there is one tool which is important more than anything else and the respect for the same has been profound, then it is none other than Pulse Oximeter. The work of this tool is to ensure that it can give you an accurate reading of your pulse measure and the levels of oxygen. It is extremely important to monitor your respiratory as well as cardiovascular health regularly and the pulse oximeter allows you to achieve that almost effortlessly. 

In case you have patients at home who suffer from lung disease or COPD, then having a pulse oximeter is extremely important. It can help you to understand the early signs of low-level oxygen in your blood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this oximeter was highly accorded and it helped one to understand when hospitalisation and oxygen support was necessary. Using the pulse oximeter is simple and it can monitor even mild dips in heart rate or oxygen levels. Respiratory distress can be quite quick and if not taken care of at the right time, it will cause major health repercussions. 

• Pregnancy Test Kit

If you are planning a kid, then having a pregnancy test kit at home is extremely important. It can help you to have a preliminary understanding of whether you are pregnant or not. The best part about the pregnancy test kits is that they come in quite handy and all you need to do is just pee on the sticks. 

These are usually quite accurate, however, it is advised to get it medically affirmed once. These are easily available in most drug stores and the best part is that they are quite affordable as well. You will be able to rule out the possibility of pregnancy as quick as 5 minutes. 

• Blood Glucometer

Finally, another crucial tool that you should certainly at home if there are diabetic patients, is none other than the blood glucometer. The device is extremely handy and just with a prick, it will help you to understand what are the current levels of diabetes.

Consistent monitoring is extremely important for those who are at high risk or already have fluctuating levels of diabetes. It is possible that with the use of such instruments, you will be able to assess situations like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as well as hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) emergencies. Using a blood glucometer is extremely simple and the best part is that the reading is mostly quite accurate as well. 

Having essential diagnostic tools at home ensures that you are not only able to monitor emergency situations but also have control. It is crucial to remember that these cannot replace the medical care and guidance that professional tests or doctors can aid you with. Using these regularly at home and sharing the deets with your doctor is the most promising method of optimising your health and wellness.