Nothing can dampen a vacation like a chronic migraine. Sunayani Sarkar, a 22-year-old biotechnology student learnt this the heard way during a trip to the Andaman and Nicobar islands last year. A month of terrible migraines later, her doctor suggested she try out a wearable device called Nerivio, developed by Pharma major Dr Reddy's through a partnership with an Israeli bio tech firm called Theranica Bio Electronics.

The device connects to an app via Bluetooth and controls the electronic pulses sent to the arm. It also stores the patient’s data to track migraine episodes over a period of time. It seemed simple enough and Sunayani’s migraines weren’t getting any better, so she decided to give it a go.

She isn’t alone. Turns out in the last few years, the market for devices to treat and manage chronic and non communicable diseases has been blowing up. Despite its high costs, thousands of Indians are opting for digital therapeutics to manage their migraines better and monitor heart health. And company's like Dr Reddy's and Lupin are making the most of it. And why wouldn't they? After all, it opens the doors to bundled products, robust patient data and a chance to be pioneers in global healthcare.

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From managing migraines, to treating IBS — why thousands are choosing devices over drugs

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