The coronavirus pandemic has placed so much emphasis on the healthcare industry. In the past, fewer people considered health and wellness as a top priority.
Now that the virus is taking the lives of people they know and are important to them, people are keen on looking at their lifestyle and see whether any of their practices can help them cope with the virus or even give them protection from infection.
With a renewed outlook on health and wellness, these trends will persist post-pandemic:
Health and Wellness Clinics
Experts see that many people will now increase the frequency of their visit to health and wellness clinics. These clinics won’t provide treatment for any existing diseases or health issues, but many would still go because they want to boost their immune system.
Why? Because people now realize how important it is to have a strong immune system to fight any form of infection.
During the pandemic, many are already looking at different ways of making their bodies strong enough to fight, not only the coronavirus but also many other types of illnesses.
People searching for facts no longer rely solely on doctors to provide them information about their health.
According to the Strategic Health Perspective survey conducted by Neilsen, most individuals also turn to digital platforms such as health information websites and social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook to get reliable information about health topics.
Telehealth and E-Consult
While a considerable number of people seek information about their symptoms, they also seek consultation from healthcare professionals, but only when they know that their illness warrants intervention.
During the pandemic, most of these consults would happen over the phone or via video calls.
This trend may continue even when the pandemic subsides because it is so convenient for them to get the medical attention they need without having to wait in line or go out of their homes.
Wearables and Health Apps
Even before COVID-19 struck, wearables and health apps were already a thing. However, it was more of a luxury rather than a need.
Now, these technologies are seeing a more significant market because it has become a commodity that helps people monitor and keep track of their health and habits.
Workout Apps and Subscriptions
Before the pandemic, gym memberships were skyrocketing. People would go to gyms to work out. With the closing of these gyms during the pandemic’s height, patrons turned to work out from the comforts of their home.
They are instead downloading and subscribing to Workout Apps and Subscriptions or watching workout videos on YouTube, especially since many gained their so-called “quarantine weight” during the first half of the stay-at-home orders.
Health Supplements
Another industry that has seen an upward trend is the health supplements industry, as many people find ways to boost their immunity.
Supermarkets report that many of their grocers are now including immune supplements as part of their daily consumption.
The vitamin supplements most popular among buyers are Vitamin C, D, and multivitamins.
Organic Foods
Organic food consumption used to be reserved for a select population of people, mainly because they are more expensive than non-organic foods.
However, the pandemic made people realize that their health is their top priority and that they are willing to spend money on organic food.
Many specialty online stores that sell organic food items like Starwest Botanicals have been attracting a new set of followers as people become more conscious about their wellbeing.
If there is one good thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought, it is the realization that people should prioritize their health.