Photo byZiva Health
There's a growing need for mental health services, fueled by factors like increased awareness, de-stigmatization and pandemic-related stress. Relaxed regulations and insurance coverage expansion during the pandemic has also boosted telehealth accessibility for mental health.
Generative AI and wearable technology play a crucial role in determining and addressing mental health issues. Dr. Michael Kurisu, Chief Health Officer of Ziva Health states, “I expect mental health services to keep growing due to accessibility & convenience. Telehealth makes mental health care more readily available, overcoming barriers like transportation, location, and stigma.”
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Dr. Wearable: Pioneering Remote Patient Monitoring with Wearables
Dr. Kurisu, affectionately known as Dr. Wearable, brings his forward-thinking healthcare approach to Ziva. He has extensive experience in remotely monitoring patient data using wearable technology. He combines a data-centric approach to wearable technology with a deep understanding of holistic medicine. “During the pandemic, I made a pioneering move in San Diego by distributing Apple Watches and Oura Rings to my patients, enabling me to closely track their sleep patterns, resting heart rates, HRV, and respiratory rates. These wearables also allowed me to gain insights into their activity levels and movement patterns.”
Ziva is a pioneering healthcare AI company with a unique approach to breathwork. It relies on wearable data for its recommendations and to train its AI models. “Ziva’s platform is designed to build a happier and healthier you - mind, body, and spirit. Our key value is to provide personalized recommendations and tools to empower people to reach their full potential in all areas of their lives through sustainable lifestyle changes. Our integrative mental wellness approach is designed to address the root cause using our science-backed, evidence-based approach. Personalized care to improve overall mental wellbeing is offered through our technology coupled with human touch from our coaches,” he explained.
Photo byZiva Health
Understanding the Link Between Stress and Breathing Patterns
Stress triggers the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), also known as the "fight or flight" response. When the SNS is activated, the body prepares for action by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and alertness. When a person is under stress or anxiety, they often adopt a shallow breathing pattern, which primarily involves chest breathing. Shallow chest breathing disrupts the balance of gasses in the body. It can lead to an excessive loss of carbon dioxide (CO2) and a decrease in oxygen (O2) intake as it requires this balance for proper oxygenation.
This sets off a cycle in which stress disrupts normal breathing patterns, leading to shallow breathing, which in turn increases the stress, creating a loop. Dr. Kurisu advocates for Ziva breathing techniques that activate the parasympathetic nervous system, fostering relaxation and counteracting the stress response. This approach aims to restore the balance of gases in the body disrupted by shallow breathing patterns.
How the Ziva Platform works: Users share basic information and choose health goals | System creates sustainable breathwork and other mental wellness recommendations | Breathwork module helps with stress, anxiety, sleep issues, focus and other health related issues through breathing exercises | Platform helps users stay consistent and accountable, by helping to build routines and healthy habits through daily check ins, wellness programs, health score and educational content | Content recommendations, programs and lessons are served to users based on their self-disclosed health conditions and health goals | Wearable technology can be integrated with the platform to provide better tracking and improve overall health outcomes | AI coaching is provided to help with any questions on breathwork and mental wellness
Dr. Kurisu, a key player in Project Apollo, envisions the potential of generative AI in reshaping healthcare. “Generative AI holds immense potential to reshape the healthcare industry specially in personalized medicine, predictive modeling and medical imaging & diagnosis. There are plenty of other use cases; these ones stand out the most. However, challenges such as data privacy concerns, regulatory compliance, model interpretability, and ethical considerations must be addressed to realize the full potential of generative AI in healthcare.”
Surge in Telehealth and the Dominance of Mental Health Services
As the telehealth market continues to grow, mental health services play an increasingly significant role. “Between Q2 2019 and Q2 2022, the share of telehealth visits related to behavioral healthcare nearly doubled, from 34.4% to 63.8%. As of Q3 2023, mental health accounted for 37% of telehealth utilization, showcasing a remarkable shift,” he says.
Dr. Kurisu's transformative documentary, "Future Patient / Future Doctor," featuring Larry Smarr, PhD, underscores the importance of data-driven, patient-centered healthcare initiatives. With Ziva Health and wearable tech leading the charge, the future of mental health care looks brighter than ever.
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