Toilet Sensor
There is a review in today’s Wall Street Journal of a device you can clip into your toilet to analyze your, ah, “doody”. This is a $600 device requiring a $7 per month subscription. The idea is the device uses a camera to analyze your “deposit” to check to see how hydrated you are, whether you are getting enough fiber or whether it can detect microscopic blood. Those first two things should be obvious to anyone paying attention and the last one seems to be subject to false positives but, nonetheless, it is available. As I read the article, I didn’t get beyond the need to let the device know when I was going to use it and, again, when I was done, before I decided it wasn’t for me.
There are a lot of devices on the market that have the good intention of giving you and/or your doctor actionable information. The Fitbit and Apple Watch are two that jump to mind. Additionally, there are little devices you can rest your fingers on and rings to wear and even a small device you can stick in your running shoe to keep track of your stats.
There are a lot of people who ache for more information on their body and their condition that are willing to pay money with the objective of, hopefully, living longer.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:4-7 ESV
As a health actuary, a lot of conversation revolves around contract changes to determine what is and what isn’t covered for the customers’ next policy year. Sometimes these conversations are philosophical in nature. For example, wheelchairs come in many forms, from manual to battery-operated versions that can traverse through a forest. Of course, these enhanced battery-operated types are very expensive compared to the manual wheelchairs. It would be easy to decide to cover both, but then the premium would have to go up accordingly.
Sometimes these conversations go beyond cost and extend to what the person will do with the test results. This is especially true with some predictive genetic tests. Let’s say you find out that, genetically, you have a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. What are you going to do with that information?
For example, 20 years ago, I had a stress test where they made me run for a time, then took an EKG of my heart. After the test was over, they recommended I see a cardiologist. It took me about six weeks to get an appointment, during which time I was worried silly, only to find out there was a mistake with the test and I had nothing bad going on.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” - Matthew 6:25-34
I’m not suggesting that you not pursue medical tests with your doctor. I am saying that only God is in control and his sovereign plan can’t be changed.
