Medical apps to keep you healthy

There are thousands of apps out there that help keep your various electronic gadgets running smoothly, but what about the most important hardware of all, the human body? Turns out there are many apps available to help you stay in tip-top shape. While many of them are geared more towards medical practitioners, here are three that are great for anyone.

DoctorMole

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.revsoft.doctormole

iPhone: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doctormole/id562711395?mt=8

Ever wonder if that strange looking mole might be a cancerous tumour in disguise? Well the DoctorMole app can help take the weight off your mind. It uses augmented reality technology to scan your moles in real time using your smartphone’s camera and gives instant risk feedback after just a few seconds. It grades your mole’s risk factor based on asymmetry, border, colour, diameter, and risk – or the ABCDE approach used by medical professionals. Testing has shown that the app is good at detecting and distinguishing between malignant and benign lesions. It’s no substitute for professional advice, but it could help notify you of an early-stage problem and nip it in the bud.

Ultraviolet

iPhone, iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/ultraviolet-uv-index/id445874481?mt=8

One step into the sunshine and this app will let you know what the UV Index is in your locale and even around the world. The app will tell you what the UV level is, how high a risk level it is, and some tips on protecting yourself. It will also show you tomorrow’s UV Index level at noon. Excessive exposure to UV radiation can cause severe health problems from sunburns and eye damage to skin aging and even skin cancer, so this app can help keep you safe.

PhysioAdvisor Exercises

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appiphany.physio

iPhone, iPad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/physioadvisor-exercises/id397276649?mt=8

This app is for patients undergoing physical therapy while at home. Since PT can be so expensive, patients typically only go to a few sessions. This app provides a wealth of PT exercises with instructional photos, descriptions, and video on how to do them. The exercises are separated into various categories, and while more instructional videos would have been a helpful touch, the app does a good job of outlining the many exercises out there. There’s a timer you can set to remind yourself of when you need to do your PT and you can even create your own PT program tailored specifically for your injury.