Health & wellness from niche to mainstream

Increasing consumer awareness on health and wellness, and on improving their lifestyle is providing more growth opportunities to markets worldwide.

What's in store for health and wellness in the new normal? Living a healthy lifestyle has never been more important than it is today. Over the years, the health and wellness industry has continued to grow and has become one of the emerging drivers of economic growth worldwide. According to Statista, the global health and wellness market is set to increase to over $6 trillion by 2025.

Today's consumers are becoming more interested in and receptive to health and wellness trends. They view the concept in a broader and more holistic manner, paving the way for more opportunities across markets. Their idea of health and wellness extends beyond health and medical care, and now includes fitness, nutrition, personal care and mental well-being.

Fidget toys

Fidget toys are known to reduce stress and anxiety, improve concentration, calm the mind and help develop fine motor skills. These self-regulating tools come in different forms such as spinners, balls, cubes and push-pops.

Pulse oximeters

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant rise in the demand for pulse oximeters. This non-invasive device, which uses infrared light to estimate the oxygen saturation of the blood, varies in size, features, designs, durability and accuracy. Aside from looking at the reading accuracy and other technical aspects, one must also consider the finger grip and battery quality. Some units feature Bluetooth connectivity, making remote patient monitoring more convenient.

Oxygen concentrators

This mobile and cost-effective medical device can generally produce 2 to 10 liters of pure, medical-grade oxygen per minute and can produce 82 to 96 percent concentration value. Power ratings range from 100 to 600W. Some units feature alarms to alert the user in instances where there is power supply failure, low battery, high and low pressure, and flow absence. Consider sourcing units that carry safety approvals, have low noise levels and use removable filters for easy cleaning.

Essential oils

The essential oils market has grown significantly over the years partly due to the growing consciousness among consumers of the benefits of aromatherapy, and in using organic and eco-friendly products. Essential oils are aromatic plant extracts that are applied to the skin or inhaled to stimulate areas of the limbic system. Popular scents include peppermint, lemongrass, lavender, sandalwood, lemon, jasmine, tea tree, chamomile, eucalyptus, frankincense and cinnamon.

Syringes

Syringes vary in sizes, capacities and types. Thebarrel sizes usually range from 1 to 70mL, but could also be between 0.3 to 1mL for insulin syringes. Those with smaller volumes are mostly for intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, medical tubing and catheters, while larger ones are used for irrigation. The tips also vary, depending on application and needle type.

Stress balls

Stress balls are known to reduce stress and anxiety, strengthen muscles, lower blood pressure, boost blood circulation, relive arthritis pains, improve concentration and help with the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. Typically made of PU foam and not more than 7cm in diameter, this stress-relieving toy comes in varying colors, designs and shapes.

Water filters

Under-sink, faucet-mounted and countertop types, dispensers and pitchers are some of the most common types of water filters available in the market today. These use mechanical, absorption, sequestration, ion exchange and reverse osmosis systems or combinations of methods, depending on purpose. Water filters remove chlorine, bad odor and tastes, and reduce contaminants like heavy metals. Some units remove more contaminants and can filter more water than others, but also produce wastewater.