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So many of the questions we used to have to take with us when we went to our annual physical we can now answer in the comfort of our homes — or, really, wherever we are — thanks to the plethora of apps at our fingertips.
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Of the millions of apps available, health apps are some of the most popular. In fact, October-December 2015 research in
Meditation-based health apps have seen a huge surge since the onset of the pandemic — and understandably so, because anxiety and depression rates have also skyrocketed since 2020, according to an April 2021 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meditation is one of the most tried-and-true ways to reduce the mental burdens associated with anxiety, stress and all sorts of mental health issues, notes Dr. Pedre.
Luckily, a plethora of meditation apps are helping people cope from the comfort of their homes, and Headspace is one of the most popular, providing guided meditations that are specific to your needs, whether you're looking to amp up your relaxation or soothe yourself to sleep (or both).
Download it: Headspace.com; Price: $12.99 per month or $69.99 per year
7. Best Exercise App: Aaptiv
This audio-based fitness app brings some serious mojo to your fitness goals thanks to its infusion of heart-pumping music to go along perfectly with whatever workout you're looking to do in addition to audio instructions from a certified personal trainer.
From stretching and treadmill work to outdoor running and indoor cycling, you'll find it all on this app, which you can download to your digital devices and use just about anywhere.
The app tracks your exercise progress, and another perk users love is that it suggests workouts for you based on your fitness level and preferences.
Download it: Aaptiv.com; Price: $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year
8. Best Nutrition App: MyPlate
Visit Page https://apps.apple.com
If you're looking to track the food you eat and analyze which nutrients you might be falling short on, this app can help you pull it all off. It's kind of like a food diary, thanks to its easy-to-use tracking database that pulls up just about any food or beverage you might be eating and incorporates all of its nutrition off the bat.
Users can also set personal goals, and the app will make suggestions — even sending reminders throughout the day to ensure you're making healthy choices, including drinking enough water.
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There's also a community section to help inspire you and introduce you to like-minded users.
Download it: iOS; Price: Free
9. Best Sleep App: Sleep Cycle
Visit Page https://go.skimresources.com
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If you're someone who wakes up feeling less than fully rested even after you've slept a healthy amount of hours at night, a sleep app may be beneficial for you.
Sleep Cycle is one of the most popular, mainly because of its user-friendly interface and advanced insight into sleep trends both in the short and long term. In addition to measuring your quality of sleep, sleep patterns and any disruptions that may have occurred throughout the night, the app also measures your heart rate, which helps clue you into what might be holding you back from optimal daytime energy.
Best part? All of the tracking is done without any wearable device — just make sure your phone is placed next to your bedside and you're good to go.
Download it: SleepCycle.com; Price: Free for basic membership; $29.99 per year for premium membership
What to Look for in a Health App
Keep these things in mind when shopping the app store:
1. Fits Your Goals
The first thing you want to do when considering a health app is take an inventory of your health goals to determine how the app can help you reach them.
"For example, if you are having trouble sleeping, then checking out the health applications specifically for sleep would be beneficial," suggests Monisha Bhanote, MD, integrative medicine doctor and founder and CEO of Holistic Wellbeing Collective. "If you are focused on increasing your physical activity, then an exercise tracker may be what you need to keep you accountable."
2. Offers Actionable Information
It's also important to check that the app is using evidence-based strategies. While health apps can be incredibly informative and give you some additional tools to help you take control of your health, make sure you're not just downloading and following any old app.
Ask yourself whether the information you are getting is "actionable intelligence" and will actually be able to improve your health in some way, recommends Joseph Feuerstein, MD, director of integrative medicine at Stamford Hospital and associate professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University.
"For example, an app that continually follows your skin temperature and how it may vary during the day is probably not that useful, whereas one that is looking at your heart rate and rhythm can potentially identify an abnormal rhythm and would be very useful — and potentially life-saving," he says.
3. Is Easy to Use
An app you don't use is as useful to you as one you never downloaded in the first place, so make sure it's relatively simple to use. A good way to check? Read reviews, and look for apps that offer free trials so you can take them for a test run before committing.
4. Fits Your Budget
Many health apps are free to download but then require in-app purchases to use many of the features. Make sure the cost of the features you're looking for works for your wallet before you hit the download button.
