Tools To Help Track Your Health
ImmunizeCA
Immunization is a key element of preventing disease, and having an up-to-date immunization record is vital. The Ottawa Health Research Institute has developed a free app that helps individuals and families manage their immunizations and provides a wealth of information including travel advice and outbreak information.
ImmunizeCA helps parents manage their family’s immunization information by
(1) Allowing parents to track their family’s immunizations
(2) Creating a virtual yellow card for each family member
(3) Providing access to official information on vaccinations
(4) Providing access to the current vaccination schedule,
(5) Reminding you of appointments for vaccinations
(6) Notifying you of any outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases and whether your family members are vaccinated against these diseases.
While the yellow card remains the official record, ImmunizeCA can help you manage your family’s immunizations. Check out http://www.immunize.ca/en/app.aspx for more information or https://www.facebook.com/immunizedotca?pnref=story on Facebook.
BMI Calculator
There are a number of BMI calculators available online and through app stores. A calculator such as Ideal Weight (BMI) allows you get a quick measure of your body mass index and gives you a rough indication of whether you are overweight, normal weight or underweight. It is important to note that BMI is a simply ratio of height to weight and only a rough guide of body fatness. Although useful for most of us, BMI can give skewed results. For example, a body builder may be mistakenly classified as obese due to their increased muscle mass.
Home Blood Pressure Monitors
Checking your blood pressure at home is an important part of managing high blood pressure (hypertension). Home monitoring can help monitor your blood pressure in a familiar setting since your blood pressure reading at home can vary dramatically from a reading in your doctor’s office. Home monitoring can also ensure your medication is working, and alert you and your doctors to potential health complications.
It is important to note that public blood pressure machines, such as those found in pharmacies, may not be accurate. They may not have been properly maintained or the cuff may not be the right size for you.
Weight Loss Apps
Weight loss apps such as LOSE IT and MyFitnessPal can provide the direction and motivation needed to lose weight. LOSE IT offers calorie and exercise tracking, a social network and fitness and dietary coaching. It allows you to enter your actual and target weights and creates a fitness and diet program. LOSE IT also connects to third party fitness trackers such as Fitbit. MyFitnessPal has similar functionality to LOSE IT with greater analytics.