Page 7 - 3925 KingmanIH33

feature

DO

HEALTH

APPS

REALLY

WORK?

By Anja Springthorpe

More than 100,000 health tools; however, in com- apps designed to monitor, According to research from
applications are available on bination with behavioral schedule and remind you the University of Massachu-
iTunes and Google Play. Some change and exercise, apps to take medications, fill setts Medical School, apps
are free, some require pur- may be helpful. prescriptions, get vacci- designed to detect skin
chase, but all claim to improve Our phones are always nated or attend upcoming cancer missed around 30%
the users’ wellness, health or at our fingertips, making visits with your physician. of melanomas.
fitness. But do these claims apps a convenient way Depending on how or- So, do health apps
stack up? to track, log or evaluate ganized you are, apps can work? Yes and no. Simple
activity levels and calorie help keep your well-being tasks like tracking, sched-
study explor- consumption. Pedometer needs on track. Apps uling, reminding or logging
ing whether apps, for example, are an may be particularly useful can successfully be done
or not health easy way to monitor if we if you manage the health via apps. Tracking apps, in
apps are effec- reach our goal of 10,000 requirements of kids or combination with a healthy,
A tive scrutinized steps per day. 10,000 other family members. active lifestyle, certainly
a number of apps from the steps per day improves Be cautious with apps support well-being and
most popular health category both cardiovascular health that claim to diagnose or overall health. However,
– diet and weight loss. More and weight loss. Ac- treat medical conditions. more complex health
than 80 percent of these cording to surveys, there Health app developers issues, such as weight loss
did not include strategies to is evidence that these are not required by law or the management of
support realistic weight loss. specific step-tracking apps to engage medical pro- medical conditions, should
The study concluded that motivate people to get up fessionals when designing not be left to apps without
the majority of mobile apps and get moving. software. This may result in the guidance of health care
are not sufficient weight-loss There are other health unreliable diagnostic criteria. professionals.

Restore the Health &

Beauty of Your Legs!

No Referrals Needed ~ Insurance Covers Most Procedures
Locations:
Kingman: (928) 718-0180
Bullhead City: (928) 704-0106
Lake Havasu: (928) 453-8346
1608 Stockton Hill Rd, Ste. 104, Kingman, AZ • www.hdvein.com608 S k ill d S