Lecture Notes: Power of Personal Data Collection

Introduction

• Speaker's love for data and statistics from a young age.
• Frustration with misuse of numbers in everyday life.
• Motivation to pursue a Ph.D. in statistics.

Personal Anecdote: Pregnancy and Data

• Experience with pregnancy and overdue status.
• Doctor's suggestion to induce labor due to stress on baby.
• As a statistician, the speaker questioned the decision asking for data.
• Discussion on the probability of miscarriage related to due dates.
• Decision to not induce based on personal data collection and understanding.
• Importance of collecting personal health data.

Understanding Female Body Temperature

• Explanation of body temperature changes during the menstrual cycle.
  • Estrogen and progesterone influence on body temperature.
  • Temperature patterns indicating ovulation and potential pregnancy.
• Personal data collection led to understanding of an early miscarriage.

Broader Implications of Data Collection

• Data collection can provide insights beyond fertility, e.g., thyroid health.
• Thyroid function and its effect on body temperature.
• Importance of personal data when medical tests might not show full picture.

Case Study: Personal Health Journey

• Husband's (Donald's) experience with misdiagnosis due to lack of personal health data.
• Importance of accurate diagnosis with proper data.
• Donald's transformation from prehypertension/hypertension to normal blood pressure through lifestyle changes.

Conclusion

• Empowerment through personal data collection.
• Individuals can become their own body experts.
• Collaboration with medical professionals for informed healthcare decisions.
• Encouragement to take ownership of personal health data.
• Audience engagement: "Show me the data!" chant to reaffirm the importance of data transparency.