By Jack Armstrong ’15

Whether tracking our steps, our sleep, our calories or other aspects of our health, our smartphones have become an essential tool for helping us live a more organized, connected and, well, healthy life. There are now more ways technology is improving our health. New medical advances such as nano blood testing and GoogleX’s cancer detecting nano particles are paving the way towards a future of smaller, cheaper and more advanced medical gadgets.

Elizabeth Holmes, the C.E.O. of Theranos, is changing the way blood tests are conducted. She has developed a new nano vial that only needs a few drops of blood. No more long needles, large vials, long test times, or expensive tests. The technology makes testing painless and efficient. In the coming years it is likely the technology will be widely adopted by labs across the country. However, it is currently available at Theranos Centers and some Walgreens locations.

Google X, Google’s secretive research lab, has said that detecting cancer in the future could be as easy as taking a pill. Google has said that nanoparticles could attach to cells in the body to see if a person has cancer. Then a device worn outside could detect the nanoparticles and provide useful information to doctors.

As these tests become more available, what it could mean for treatment options remains unclear. New ways to test for and treat cancer are nearing the end of trial phases. For example, chemotherapy is the main form of treatment available now to destroy cancer cells, but it also harms surrounding healthy cells. There is now a new form of treatment called antibody-drug conjugates that are designed to target cancer cells. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Drug conjugates use antibodies, the large molecules in the immune system that typically bind to the cell surface of a virus or bacteria and keep it from advancing.” The drugs attach to antibodies and use them to directly treat the cancer cells.

While detecting and treating cancer is complicated and requires professional care, a company called iHealth is creating personal accessories for the iPhone that monitor blood glucose levels, blood pressure and pulse, helping people catch early health issues. The devices sync with the iPhone’s Health app, recording health data directly into the iPhone app rather than a separate clumsy device, proving useful for those aiming for a seamless experience while keeping track of their health information. There is even a $99 Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) tracker sold by BAC Track that connects to the iPhone.

It’s not hard to imagine a day when our smartphones could know more about our health than we do, whether tracking and storing our day-by-day health information, acting as our personal assistant or automatically sending our data to a doctor when we are sick. There is already a company specializing in personal doctor-via-Skype care: CareSimple. Available to Washington state residents, the service promises to provide “virtual house call at a moments notice.”

The health industry is rapidly evolving as more innovators are seeking ways to improve our health with the technology we use everyday. New ways to test blood, detect and target cancer cells, and track our everyday health are just the beginning. What comes next, we’ll just have to wait and see.