8 Mobile Apps to Help Manage Your Health [Slide Show]

These accoutrements to a smart phone can help users plan and track workouts, monitor important health indicators such as glucose and blood pressure, and locate nearby physicians and clinical trials

By Elena Malykhina

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Thousands of health and medical apps can be had for a minute or less of download time, and sometimes a dollar or two. Because choosing among mobile applications can be an overwhelming experience, Scientific American has put together a list—based on functionality, content and customer reviews—of ones you may find useful.

Nowadays, an app exists for tracking most of your routine health needs, whether it be recording distance on a treadmill or finding a clinical trial for a recently diagnosed disease. These tools undoubtedly could help you take care of yourself better, yet there are some caveats that also need to be heeded. Most applications, including the ones in this article, are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA has proposed the regulation of certain apps that deal with health and medical needs, although the rules address only a small fraction of programs, such as those that accompany already regulated medical devices. So consumers need to use their best judgment and check with a physician to ensure that a particular app meets their individual health needs.

View a slide show of screen captures and additional information for each of the mobile apps.

Here are some additional mobile health apps worth checking out:

Smart Alarm Clock Price: Free
Description: Monitor your sleep cycles and wake up at the best time for your body.

DepressionCheck Price: Free
Description: Assess (not diagnose) your risk of depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders.

Lose It! Price: Free
Description: Set goals and establish a daily calorie budget that enables you to meet them.

iChemoDiary Price: Free
Description: Record your chemotherapy schedule, treatments and select symptoms.

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