Here and now in the digital age, technology plays a vital role in nearly every part of life. Because maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one of the hottest trends in modern culture, tech and medical professionals have stepped up to give you more autonomy over your personal wellness. Here’s a list of technologies designed to help you keep track of your health in order to positively affect your physical and mental well-being.
Apps for Chronic Illness Management
Many people suffer from chronic illness and have difficulty managing their health, tracking medication changes and keeping scheduled doctor’s appointments. Mobile apps designed to manage your health data can help you organize and process all the information associated with your medical condition. Apps created for chronic illness management can help you remember the timing and dosage of your meds, pain charting and symptom tracking. The data collected and stored can then be shared with doctors and pharmacists to ensure you’re receiving the highest standard of care for your chronic disease.
Telehealth Care
The convenience of the modern world means you don’t even need to leave your home to see the doctor anymore. Through telehealth, you can meet with your health care team through video conferencing software on your phone or computer. You can also conduct secure email exchanges or chat through an app or website. These services are often cheaper than traditional doctor visits and many insurance companies cover telehealth with minimal or no cost to you. With such ready access to your healthcare provider, you don’t need to travel to the doctor’s office to discuss changes in medication or Thrive side effects.
Of course, not every problem can be diagnosed and treated from your home office, so you should still expect to meet your doctor in person for those more important issues.
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Nutrition and Fitness Tracking Apps
Fad diet and exercise programs are controversial and have a high failure rate because they are difficult to sustain. Even with a busy schedule, you can use apps to maintain a healthy level of fitness, and because electronic devices are an essential part of your lifestyle, you’re more likely to check in with your data via your tracking app and find the motivation you need to keep going until you reach your goals. There are several different app options, but most will allow you to store the following information: diet, exercise, and mental health. Once you notice the positive outcomes of your new healthy habits, you feel encouraged to continue on your health and wellness journey.
Digital Medical Records
You may find you have additional questions or concerns after you leave the doctor’s office. Many clinics, doctor’s offices and hospitals provide patients access to their secure records systems where they store electronic medical records. This allows you to view your list of prescription medications, test results and other documents as well as receive post-op follow-up directions, pay bills and schedule future appointments. Ask your doctor or health care provider if they offer online medical records via a patient portal or personal health record data system.
Fitness Watches
A great way to stick to your fitness plan is to equip yourself with the tech that records all the data while you do all the hard work. With your fitness watch, you can set realistic, attainable goals for yourself and then celebrate as you surpass them. You can connect your watch to a tracking app on your phone so you can view and analyze the data collected.
You can use your statistics to design new workouts, customize your fitness plans and adjust your activity levels as needed. Your attention to the details of your mobility data can help to keep you health-conscious, and you’ll be encouraged to take better care of yourself as time goes on.
Mindfulness Apps
Mindfulness and meditation are key tools for personal wellness. Apps that offer thoughtful quiet practices exist to help you manage stress and anxiety. With a healthy balance between your physical fitness and emotional well-being, you’ll be better equipped to fight off depression, insomnia and chronic illness. Tune in to guided sessions, courses or specialized training that is completely focused on you and your needs.
Regardless of where you are on your road to health and happiness, let the latest technology help you get there.