Tech Bytes: The Importance Of Tracking Your Health

The Importance Of Health Tracking Apps

By Brandon Pottie

Tracking your family’s health could be a great habit that you start in 2021, and it is timely considering people are less inclined to leave their homes amidst the ongoing pandemic.

Who should track their health?

Everyone. Health tracking is not just for people with chronic illness; it’s for parents with young kids, allergy sufferers, and those of us who only visit the doctor for our annual physicals. Just a small amount of effort can keep your family’s health history organized, which empowers you when you are speaking with your healthcare professionals. Keeping track of injuries, illnesses, vaccines, lab reports, medical visits, etc. is something that ensures you are always able to stay informed.

Why does it matter? 68% of people with chronic health conditions do not track their symptoms, even when requested to do so by their healthcare professionals. Many Canadians do not have a Family Physician and receive their healthcare at a walk-in clinic. We all have reasons to put effort into our health tracking — after all, there is nothing more important than your family’s health. The topic of aging parents is also a growing issue as the “boom” continues to move up each year.

But is it hard? Not really. Canadian adults spend two hours 54 minutes on their Smartphones every day, not including phone calls. There are many apps available to track things like symptoms or specific health conditions and most of them are inexpensive. Taking the time to find the right app for you means your health tracking will exist where you are — on your device. This convenience of “at your fingertips” makes it easier than ever to take the time to put that extra little bit of care in place for your family.

Boring! No way! Modern health tracking apps are highly interactive, easier to use than other methods, and most will give you really interesting insights about yourself, your symptoms, and your health. You will also find that some of the better apps will incentivize you to keep on top of your tracking goals by providing rewards, points, or by unlocking app features. When you feel empowered, engaged, and motivated, tracking your family’s health gives you a great sense of accomplishment. Check!

Does it make a difference? Absolutely. Visiting your healthcare professional and presenting your clear, organized information will make your conversations far more meaningful. This enables you and your healthcare professional to make better-informed decisions, which ultimately can lead to better outcomes for you and your family. The insights you glean over time from just a small amount of effort is something you simply cannot replace.

Is it expensive? Generally, you can get started with a free version of most health tracking apps. Premium features can cost in the range of $3 to $5/month depending on the app and the quality of the features you are looking for. There is something for every budget and there may be opportunities for subsidies if needed.

Health apps at work: Increasingly, employers and other organizations are turning to health apps to provide win-win benefits for their teams. An oft-quoted Harvard study found that for every $1 spend on employee wellness programs, medical costs fell by $3.27. Additionally, for every $1 spent, absenteeism costs fell by $2.73. More importantly, modern employers are recognizing that people are the most important part of their organizations; investing in the health of families is a practice that makes great sense for morale and relationships, not just for the bottom line. “Tech Bytes” is powered by WEtech Alliance (WEtech-Alliance.com). The author of the article this issue, Brandon Pottie is the father of four girls and the Founder of EmbraceHealthTracking.com. He believes that empowering people to better track their health means better conversations with our healthcare providers and ultimately, better results and outcomes.