Last year, we published an article highlighting a few of our favorite health apps. This year, we’re taking another look at some of the hottest health apps to hit the app store. Instead of sorting through 97,000, this time around we’re weeding through more than 100,000! A lot has happened—and been developed— these past 12 months. But, with summer right around the corner, the time for flash fitness is upon us. No more excuses—find an app that’s right for you and set yourself up for a 30-day challenge.
Life Changers
Rise. This app has been featured in Vanity Fair as well as on top syndicated news stations. It’s popular for a reason. This app works as a personal coach, helping users reach their personal goals. You begin by setting it up according to what you want to achieve—to simply feel better, fit into a wedding dress, or because your doctor insists you make serious changes. With your app setting configured to your lifestyle, you’re ready to start chatting with your registered dietician/mentor, taking accountability for your daily choices, and tracking your successes.
Headspace. Here’s another app you might have stumbled upon if you’re a fan of TechCrunch, Ted Talk, Wired, or the New York Times. This app is determined to teach you how to meditate—clear your mind and ease your whole body—in 10 days. It doesn’t stop there (although the free trial does). If you subscribe, you gain access to hundreds of hours of resources and activities. There are tools for overall mindfulness as well as for powering you through meltdown moments. Their theory: Treat your head right and the rest will follow.
Charity Miles. If you’re motivated by causes, this app will help you get off the couch. This app tracks the distance you run, assigns monetary value, and donates to the charity of your choice. Some of the charities mentioned on their home page are ASPCA, Autism Speaks, IronMan Foundation, and Stand Up To Cancer.
Allergy Alerts
WebMD Allergy. When you visit this site, the music might deter you—we encourage turning off your speakers so you can see all the good things this app offers for allergy suffers. For starters, it allows you set alerts for what triggers your symptoms so your phone will notify you on days when you’ll want to carry allergy medicine or your inhaler.
But, it does more than give you daily pollen and allergen counts; it also has a wealth of resources for diagnosing and tackling your symptoms. Are you fighting off a seasonal cold or is this hay fever? This app can help you navigate your symptoms so you’ll be prepared when you need to call your doctor or visit the pharmacy counter.
My Symptoms Food & Symptom Tracker. If you have to watch what foods you add to your plates and monitor your reactions, this app can come in handy. It compares your symptoms with what you’ve eaten and then runs an analysis of patterns. You can create shareable PDFs, too, that can be passed on to a babysitter (if you've been tracking your child's food intake), family members, and your doctor. It has been recently updated for an optimized experience.
Mind Benders
Lumosity. If you’ve managed to escape the television and magazine ads for this app, we’d love to know your secret. This app is a widely popular tool for keeping your mind in shape using games designed to improve your memory, attention, mind speed, mental flexibility, and problem solving skills. It starts by analyzing your current speed, attention, and memory, and then customizes a program to help you improve in areas you want.
Duolingo. Expand your horizons and your vocabulary with this app. Learn new languages—Spanish, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Danish, etc.—with addicting games that track your progress and investment.
Before we conclude our glimpse into 2015’s top health apps, we have to remind you, our loyal reader, of the dark side of technology. By no means should apps replace medical treatment. Yes, there are apps available that claim to track your blood sugar levels, pulse, and blood pressure. A recent New York Times article brings to light the severity of these claims—they can be dangerous, even life-threatening.
Technology, and certainly smart phone technology, has come a long way in a short time. However, we have to be smart about the technologies we invite into our lives. There are a lot of great things happening that can empower our lives, but there are also some new releases we need to use while mindful of all potential repercussions.
Additional ISM resources:
ISM Monthly Update for Risk Managers Vol. 5 No. 1 An App a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
