By Luke Smith, Writer and Researcher
Twitter: @lukesmithwrites
As the world continues to evolve, so does the technology that makes our lives easier and more efficient. This is certainly the case in the medical field as companies continue to make new apps that not only help us stay on top of our health but also help us better communicate with medical professionals when we need them the most. Let’s look at some of the great new mobile apps and online services that are helping us monitor and maintain our health regularly.
Connection Between Nurses and Patients
With the arrival of COVID-19, technology is more important than ever as many patients are forced to stay at home and medical professionals deal with a slew of new patients in their waiting rooms. Hospitals can be more efficient with online portals where patients can set up appointments, get test results, refill prescriptions, and more. This kind of tech is also proving to benefit the connections between healthcare providers and patients, especially during social distancing.
With many hospitals focusing on COVID-19 patients and the social distancing guidelines that keep us safe, there has been a rise in the use of telemedicine. This is where a patient will be assisted via virtual care with a doctor over the computer instead of meeting them in person. These sessions are conducted according to HIPAA guidelines, and they can be a great way to resolve medical issues or determine if an in-person appointment is truly necessary.
The World Health Organization has put out its own app to support health workers as they assist their patients during the pandemic. The program provides updated information and guidance on new treatments and virtual workshops that assist nurses in working with COVID patients. The app is available in several languages, so medical professionals around the globe can continue to help their patients work through this difficult time.
Dental Care
It can be easy to forget to care for our teeth, but it’s important that to. Inflictions like cavities are a pain to deal with, but if untreated, they could lead to nerve damage and dangerous infections. Luckily, there are several mobile apps that can help you keep on top of your dental health.
While it is still heavily suggested that you visit your dentist twice per year, regular maintenance will also decrease your chances of getting cavities. New apps like Text2Floss send you alerts at least twice per day to remind you to floss. Stick with the routine for long enough, and you can even get rewards points towards dental hygiene products. When it comes to making those dental appointments, try MyDentist, which connects you to local dentists.
It is important for children to get in the habit of caring for their teeth early so they can set themselves up for success later in life. There are many apps out there that can help, including several that aim to turn brushing teeth into a fun experience with timers, cartoon characters, and little games that encourage the children to brush for the recommended two minutes. If you want your kids to learn more about dental health in general, they can try the Toothsavers brushing game, which teaches them about why they should care for their teeth and how brushing and flossing work to fight cavities.
Apps for a Healthy Lifestyle
The advancement of mobile apps has allowed us to remember the importance of preventive health so we can live longer and avoid costly doctor visits whenever possible. The first step to a healthier life is to eat well, and many new apps are coming out to help with this, including the Calorie Counter and Food Diary app that has you enter your nutrition or weight loss goals so you can keep track of how much you consume and how many calories you have left each day. The new Shopwell app takes your goals and gives you advice on what you should or should not purchase at the store.
Combine healthy eating with exercise and use new mobile apps to help you along the way. Some of the highest-rated apps include Aaptiv, which supplies the user with an almost endless list of workouts for every part of your body. Pair a Fitbit with the Fitbit Coach, and you get exercise routines and informative data on calories burned and steps taken.
Another aspect of healthy living is being as stress-free as possible because when we are stressed, we create hormones that lead to negative changes in appetite. There are always new stress-reduction apps coming out, including Headspace, which provides meditations to improve your mood and iSleep Easy, which provides meditations to help you sleep.
This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the number of helpful mobile apps available for monitoring your health, and new tools are in development all the time. Try these or search online and find the perfect app to be your best self.