Cabinets

Today, medicine cabinets are little more than relics from the past. You might have some band aids, some non prescription pain killers like aspirin, your toothbrush and toothpaste and a few other miscellaneous items in them; but there really isn't enough room for much else. Most people have given up trying to put everything in the medicine cabinet and have simply moved all their vitamins, minerals, herbs, supplements, prescription medications and other health related paraphernalia into either the kitchen or the bedroom. Fifty years ago, home health care was much simpler. You could put everything you needed in that little medicine cabinet in the bathroom and it was perfectly adequate. You visited the doctor when you were born and when you were very close to the other end of life…and that was about it.

Today, health care has radically changed. Most of us have more doctors' appointments than we care to admit and the supplements and medications we take are 10 fold more than what was consumed 50 years ago. Dietary health warnings are everywhere. We need more fiber in our diet, less fat, more of this vitamin, more of that herb, less cholesterol and on and on. There is no way that your doctor can keep you informed of all that you need to know for good health and getting a doctor's appointment sometimes takes months if not years. The humble little medicine cabinet is literally screaming for an update to help fill the physical and informational gap in our health care needs.

So what exactly do these companies have in mind to transform today's medicine cabinets into super health care centers? To start with the look of the cabinets is completely different. The right side will be a standard mirror and medicine area but the left will have an LCD computer screen, a camera, and microphone and full computer behind it. When you walk up to one of these high tech medicine cabinets it will automatically recognize you. It will give you whatever information updates you need. If you suffer from allergies or arthritis it will tell you if today is a good or bad day for that. Using radio frequency ID tags on prescription medication bottles, it will line up the pills and supplements that you need for the day.

If you have a headache or the flu simple tell the medicine cabinet and it will give you whatever information you need, and update your clinic or doctor about what is going on. The medicine cabinets will also monitor and track common health parameters such as body weight, percentage of fat, blood pressure, and heart rate and cholesterol levels. Everything would be automatic. If you are over weight, have high blood pressure or missed taking your medication last night it will tell you. Probiotic mouthwash, dissolvable bandages and automatic needle free injections are on the list of features planned for future medicine cabinets.