Introduction
Your smartwatch can tell you how well you've slept, your phone can track your daily activity, and genetic testing can help doctors predict how you might respond to certain medications. Technology is changing the way we understand our health, and increasingly, how we manage it.
Rather than relying entirely on occasional check-ups, we now have access to more information about our bodies than ever before. But does having more data make us healthier?
Here, we explore five technologies shaping personalised health, from tools you can use at home to emerging advances in artificial intelligence and genomics. We look at what they can offer, where the evidence stands, and whether they could help us prevent disease rather than simply treat it.
1. Wearables
Smartwatches such as the Apple Watch, Fitbit and Garmin have come a long way from simply counting steps. Many can now track heart rate, physical activity, sleep patterns and heart rate variability (HRV), while some offer ECG recordings and alerts for irregular heart rhythms.
One of the biggest advantages of wearable devices is their ability to collect information over time. Rather than relying on a single measurement taken during a doctor's appointment, you can begin to understand what is normal for your body and how it responds to changes in your routine.
For example, you might notice that your resting heart rate is higher after a poor night's sleep, or that your HRV changes during periods of stress. While these measurements aren't diagnostic on their own, they may help you recognise patterns in your health.
Wearables also have some established medical applications. Certain smartwatches can help detect possible atrial fibrillation, while activity tracking may encourage people to move more throughout the day.
At Emerald, we're particularly interested in how this continuous stream of information could complement traditional health assessments. Combining wearable data with blood biomarkers and medical history may help build a more complete picture of someone's health.
Where wearables could make a difference: Helping people understand their activity, sleep and physiological trends, while supporting earlier recognition of certain health problems.
(Incidentally, this is exactly what we're building at Emerald).
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2. AI-Driven Intelligence
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to analyse medical information, identify patterns and help clinicians make decisions. One of its most exciting potential applications is predicting someone's future risk of disease.
Traditionally, healthcare has focused heavily on diagnosing and treating conditions once symptoms develop. But many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, develop gradually over years.
What if we could identify people at risk much earlier?
Researchers have developed an AI model called Delphi, which was trained using health records from more than 400,000 UK Biobank participants. By analysing the sequence and timing of previous medical events, the model can estimate the likelihood of developing more than 1,000 different conditions, with predictions extending up to 20 years into the future.
It's an interesting development because it looks beyond individual diseases to identify patterns across a person's medical history.
AI is also being explored for interpreting medical images, analysing blood test results and identifying patients who may benefit from earlier investigation.
The real opportunity is not simply predicting that someone might develop a disease, but using that information to make a difference. An earlier warning is only useful if it leads to an intervention that improves someone's health.
Where AI could make a difference: Identifying patterns in complex health data and helping clinicians recognise people who may benefit from earlier screening or preventive treatment.
3. Remote Care: Telehealth and Home Monitoring
For many people living with chronic conditions, managing their health involves regular appointments, repeated measurements and ongoing adjustments to treatment.
Remote monitoring is making some of this possible from home.
Devices such as digital blood pressure monitors, glucose monitors and home spirometers allow patients to collect measurements outside a clinical setting. In some healthcare services, these readings can be shared directly with clinicians, helping them monitor a condition without requiring frequent face-to-face appointments.
Take someone with high blood pressure. A single reading in a GP surgery may not accurately reflect their usual blood pressure, particularly if they're feeling anxious. Measuring blood pressure at home over several days can provide a more representative picture and help clinicians decide whether treatment needs adjusting.
Similarly, people with diabetes may use continuous glucose monitors to understand how their glucose levels change throughout the day and to guide treatment decisions.
This is already part of modern healthcare, rather than something we're waiting for in the future.
Of course, remote monitoring isn't suitable for every condition. The quality of the measurements, how often they're reviewed and whether patients have access to appropriate clinical support all matter.
It's also important that technology doesn't replace the personal relationship between patients and healthcare professionals.
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4. Behavioural Change Apps
Most of us already know that regular exercise, good sleep and a balanced diet are important for our health. The difficult part is actually making those changes and sticking to them.
This is where behavioural health apps may have a role.
Apps such as Headspace and Calm offer guided meditation, relaxation exercises and tools to support sleep and mental wellbeing. Others help people set activity goals, track habits or work towards changes in their diet.
Some apps can also personalise recommendations based on the information users provide, their previous activity or their progress towards a goal.
Rather than simply telling someone to exercise more, an app might help them set a realistic weekly target, remind them to go for a walk or show how their activity has changed over time.
There is evidence that some digital behaviour-change interventions can improve outcomes such as physical activity and certain mental health symptoms, although the benefits vary considerably between apps and are not always sustained over the long term.
An app isn't necessarily effective simply because it uses AI or offers personalised recommendations. The quality of the advice, the behaviour-change techniques it uses and whether someone continues using it are all important.
The Emerald perspective: We think one of the biggest challenges in preventive healthcare isn't knowing what is good for us, but finding ways to make those behaviours part of everyday life. Technology can help bridge that gap, but the best app is ultimately one that helps you make changes you can maintain.
Conclusion
The most effective personalised health strategy in 2026 blends several tools: a wearable for continuous data, high-quality apps for daily habits, and access to tele-health for professional oversight. These tools work best when data is shared with trusted healthcare professionals, supporting the clinical relationship and the physical examination that remains central to good medicine.
Three practical tips to get started:
Focus on one priority: Begin with one device or app addressing your biggest need—whether that’s sleep, activity, or mental health.
Review data with a professional: Consult a clinician or coach at least once a year to turn raw data into an actionable plan.
Keep your "Health Stack" updated: As technology and your own biological needs evolve, ensure your tools remain relevant.
Looking ahead, we can expect more precise and inclusive personalised health tools. With thoughtful adoption and proper professional support, proactive self-care will become easier, improving the quality of life across all groups. The future of healthcare is personal—and your influence over your own health trajectory has never been greater.
References
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