By: The Capella University Editorial Team
Reading time: 4 minutes
Biohacking is any change a person makes to their habits, diet, environment or use of technology to improve their health or live longer. It includes self-directed practices such as intermittent fasting, sleep tracking, supplement use and glucose monitoring outside diabetes care. Healthcare professionals who discuss these practices with their patients may be able to help them tell the difference between safe, evidence-backed approaches and risky ones.
How does biohacking work?
People who biohack run small experiments on their own bodies and track the results, whether in a notebook or on a device. The risk comes when a well-meant experiment goes to an extreme or rests on advice that no one has tested.
What are common examples of biohacking?
- Wearable trackers. Smartwatches and rings record heart rate, sleep and activity.
- Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). In 2024, the FDA cleared the first over-the-counter CGM for adults who don’t use insulin, including people without diabetes. Readings may help people spot patterns, but a diagnosis should be made by a healthcare professional.
- Intermittent fasting. This approach alternates set periods of eating with set periods of fasting, such as limiting meals to an eight-hour window each day. People try it to manage their weight, simplify meal planning or improve their overall health.
- Supplements. According to Pew Research Center’s September 2026 survey, 78% of U.S. adults take at least one supplement and 19% take herbal supplements.
- Sleep routines. People may set a consistent bedtime, limit screens before bed or keep the bedroom dark and cool. Some also use a tracker to monitor their sleep quality.
- Heat exposure. People use sauna sessions or hot baths to help them relax, soothe sore muscles after exercise or just feel better.
What health considerations come with biohacking?
The health considerations depend on what a particular practice involves and on the person trying it. A routine that suits one patient can be a poor fit for another, depending on their age, health conditions and the medications they take. That’s why it helps to consider each routine separately.
Three issues are worth raising with patients:
- Medication interactions. Some supplements may interact with prescription medications. Supplement labels often note that the FDA has not evaluated their claims, so patients should tell their care team about every supplement they take.
- Existing conditions. Some routines may not be appropriate for patients with certain health conditions, such as heart disease, low blood pressure or diabetes.
- Conflicting information. According to Pew Research Center’s April 2026 survey of U.S. adults, 76% at least sometimes see conflicting health information and 50% say judging its accuracy is at least somewhat difficult.
How can healthcare professionals talk with patients about biohacking?
There’s a middle ground between ignoring biohacking and trying to shut it down. In a routine visit, a few approaches may help:
- Asking directly. The topic could come up alongside the questions already asked about medications and supplements. Asking what a patient is doing, how often and why can give a fuller picture.
- Responding without judgment. Telling patients to stop may not land well when they’re motivated about their health. One approach is to acknowledge the goal first, then talk about the method, and let patients know they can bring questions or concerns back at any time.
- Looking at sources together. Patients may find it useful to ask who wrote a piece of advice, what evidence supports it and whether the author is selling something.
- Setting limits together. Some patients and care teams agree on safe parameters, such as which supplements to avoid with certain medications.
- Keeping up with trends. New routines and products appear constantly, so it may help to know what patients are likely to find online. That way, they can hear a balanced view from their care team.
