While nothing can replace making an appointment for a consultation with your family doctor, there are alternative ways to access health information. Support may be gained through iPhone health applications and self-help apps for a wide range of common conditions.
iPhone Health Applications
Rather than having to hunt around the library or spend a fortune buying books on amazon, there are plenty of ways to get inexpensive and sometimes free information about common illness. If you own an iPhone or iPad, many useful apps are available. Here are some examples of the best iPhone applications for health problems:
- Allergies - Allergy Mate provides database of 4,000+ foods, chemical triggers, symptoms, advice, research, resources, travel help
- Arthritis - Arthritis Joint Pain Relief includes traditional/natural pain relief, herbs, supplements
- Cancer - cancerHelp online support community, article links, personal journal, track common physical and emotional concerns
- Chronic pain - Pain Relief Tips provides natural pain relief for back, ear, neck, stomach, tooth and joint pain
- Depression - Health Tips 1,000 offers nutrition/exercise tips to help improve mood
- Diabetes - Diabetes Budy tracks blood sugar levels, insulin, exercise, blood pressure, medications, weight changes
- Headaches/Migraine - Headache & Migraine Diary track triggers, medication effectiveness, headache patterns and identify causes
- High blood pressure - Blood Pressure Reducer helps lower blood pressure, relax muscles and breathing through binaural sounds
- Sleep disorders - Sleep Well natural remedy guide, behavioural changes, self-help techniques, herbal remedies and supplements for healthful sleep
Self-Help Apps for Addiction
Self-help is becoming an increasingly popular option, especially for conditions which require lifestyle changes, such as addictions and stress. However, it is also important to seek medical help for any addiction or addictive behaviour, with a wide range of therapies and twelve step programmes available to support recovery. Here are some examples of practical iPhone self-help apps for addicts and those feeling stressed out:
- Stop Smoking - Smoke Quitting Self-Hypnosis, Smoke Out, SmokeTrack, Smoking Manager, Quit Smoking Helper, Quit It Stop Smoking
- Quit Drinking - Quit Drinking by Dr Milne, Alcohol Meter+, Alcohol Usage, AlcoUnits
- Stress Reduction - Stress Management Tips, Stress and Relaxation Guide, Meditation Guide, Self-Hypnosis for Stress
- Yoga - Yoga Basis, Yoga for Stress Relief, Yoga for Relaxation, Yoga Heal Your Body, Yoga Guide, Yoga Meditation, Yoga Lessons,Yoga for Peace, Yoga for Beginners, Yoga for Life
As highlighted above, there are many ways in which the iPhone can now be used to help those suffering from a wide range of health conditions, both mental and physical. Some of the most helpful apps are those providing relaxation and stress relief, with much benefit to well-being.
Source:
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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