Tech guru: An app a day keeps the doctor away

December 12, 2014 06:31 pm | Updated December 13, 2014 12:12 pm IST

Screen shot of the application

Screen shot of the application

Unfortunately, the kind of world we live in these days is not particularly conducive to good health. A lot of us have some complaint or the other, none of us can claim to be perfectly healthy – even if a few can, come summer and there is a bout of heat stroke going around, rains are the harbingers of the infernal flu and insect-related diseases, and winters come with their own special set of trademark sicknesses. Aside from all of that, most of us have chronic complaints, or are prone to little accidents (bumps and bruises). Here are a few apps that could aid you in your mission to track and stay ahead of sickness and ill-health.

GotoAID First Aid Lite

While it’s always best to let experts handle emergencies, you must know exactly what to do in case there is an inordinate amount of delay before help arrives. This app contains a database of information that provides clear, concise, step-by-step walk-throughs on how to handle “everything from bee stings to weather-related emergencies to a complete sudden cardiac arrest incident”. It helps you identify the issue and provide first aid for 40 categories of problems. The best part is that the app aids in treating pets (dogs and cats) as well. Upgrading to the premium version will get you 400 first aid topics and sound clips, along with video instructions - well worth the investment.

Migraine Buddy

Migraine Buddy is by far the one of best migraine trackers available today. When it comes to migraines, there are not a lot of fail-safe cures out there, and most patients react differently to different cures. The app tracks your migraine patterns, helps identify triggers, detects and records sleep activity, medication and any other relief methods, lets you mark the intensity and location of the pain and a lot more. The whole concept is brilliant, like having a personal migraine doctor on call. The only minus point is that the app really sucks the juice out of your phone, also making it heat up. Much as I love the app, I just had to uninstall it fearing for my phone’s life (especially since Android Lollipop is really not behaving optimally on Nexus handsets).

Lunacycle

This is a very handy little app for women to track health and fertility. Lunacycle lets you chart your monthly cycle and ovulation period, and plan your contraception. It also predicts your next period, ovulation date, and graphs your fitness and fertility. No more messing around with calendars, see? A few add-ons are beauty, diet and general health tips. Of course, depending on your body cycle and health, the predictions may not be perfectly accurate. Plus, it is always a good idea to schedule gynaecological appointments regularly.

WebMD

The app, modelled after the popular site, lets you check symptoms, conditions, and provides treatment options at your fingertips. It also has a pill identification tool that helps you identify your “prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines by pill shape, colour, and imprint”. The best feature is that the app lets you access first aid information without having to connect to the internet – very important in dire circumstances if you’re stuck somewhere without remote access.

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