Lifelong Learning through Fitness and Health Apps

I recently attended Emory Healthcare’s Heartwise Bootcamp where I learned about many online free resources to improve your health and safety by using FREE online and computer applications.  The Emory doctor stated that smart phone technology was future of medicine because 53% of the adults in America owned smart phones. She showed how a $200 instrument that goes around an iphone allows the phone to do an EKG (or become a halter monitor) by placing both of your thumbs on the iphone screen.  Ultrasound images of your heart can show up live so the doctor can talk to you in his office and see obstructions.  It was amazing what could be done.  She shared that a study at Northwestern University in 2012 found that use of technology contributed significantly to weight loss efforts as well.  In addition, the doctor pointed out that your smart phone is a great way to collect and record information for your doctor and medical emergencies.  For example, if your feet are swollen or blue only in the morning (or some other symptom) take a picture to show when you get to the doctor.  You can also document moles with pictures to see if they are changing.  Lastly, she encouraged us to keep our medical records on our phones so that when an emergency happens away from your files at home, you have all the information easily accessible (like your last tetanus shot).

If your parents are aging, I also recommend getting them used to their mobile phone as soon as possible so the ability to use it is in their long-term memory. Frankly, YOU should use the resources now so they are in your long-term memory and YOU can stay independent longer!  Phones can be a support for taking medications and keeping medical records. In addition, if you can teach your parents to use the app called Lifesign Medical, then they can text someone their location (by address as well as GPS coordinates) if they are lost, or get hurt at home or out walking the neighborhood.  Lifesign Medical also makes calling 911 easier as well.

The apps that Emory doctor spotlighted, as well as some others that I have come across over this last month are listed below.  (Applications spotlighted by the Blue Cross Blue Shield health coaches are also on the list.)  IF YOU HAVE A FAVORITE HEALTH APPLICATION ON THE CELL PHONE, OR ONLINE PLEASE SHARE IT IN A COMMENT ON THIS POST.

Check out the wealth of resources at your fingertips below.  The resources are grouped by whether they are online only, phone only, and communicated between both. All of these resources below are FREE. My favorites are starred.

Online only:

1.  ****www.heartsbeatback.org  Vegetable Tracker with pretty colors to track your daily variety.  I think children would enjoy tracking by color and it gets them thinking about variety, as well as you!

2.  ****www.heart360.org Track your blood pressure, blood glucose, cholesterol, weight, medication.  Set up your own text reminders to your phone.  Type in any message you want to arrive to your inbox at anytime you want.  Send yourself “I am a healthy active person” as a reminder to move during the day, or “reading the scriptures helps me keep my perspective.”  Literally anything you want to send yourself is possible under the Reminders tab.

3.  ****www.sparkpeople.com  This site has many varied resources: recipes, food log, exercise log, online support groups, health articles and videos, trackers for daily vegetables, water and personal goals.  I am sure there is even more so check it out. A mobile app is available for a fee.  Reviews say the phone app is really buggy.

Mobile phone only:

1.  My healthy habits.  Another reminder system for any goals of your choosing.  You can also download calendar prompts for ical for your iphone.  Prompts last for 21 days and then you get the choice to change your goals or continue the same.

2.  ****Heart Rate tracks your heart rate by putting your finger over the iphone camera.

3.  ****CardioSmart Med Reminder.  Remind you about refills, when to take meds.  Tags photos of your meds to make sure you know what they are supposed to look like.

4.  ****Lifesign Medical  Has a GPS to text your location if you are lost, or to call 911. Has room for medical information and a tagged picture for each family member.

Programs that use both phone and online:

1.  My Net Diary  tracks nutritional information reporting your sugars, carbs, sodium, etc. for the day.  Online and phone immediately sync. 

2.  My Fitness Pal tracks nutritional information like carbs, fat, etc. Online and phone immediately sync.

3.  Lose It tracks nutritional information like the ones above but also has a barcode scanner for free to add foods to your log.