There’s An App for THAT! Living With Lupus in the Age of Technology
Note: For the latest in smart phone apps specific to lupus, check out our updated blog by clicking here
Lupus and Mobile Tech – Smartphone Apps and Managing Your Health
Contents:
In the age of iPads, iPhones, Androids, tablets, laptops, PC’s and Macpro’s – it is hard to not be overwhelmed by the constant bombardment of counting gigabytes and data charges. However, as daunting as all these devices can be, they can work towards your advantage when used correctly. Or in this case, be used to help you live with lupus. That’s right. Now you can use apps on your phone or streaming device to manage your symptoms, track your medications, take charge of your medical records, keep your eating and exercise in check and much…much more.
We, at Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus, decided to research some of the latest and greatest that the world wide web has to offer for someone living with lupus. Here is a little “app”etizer list of some of our top favorites.
EPA’s SunWise UV Index App
This is an amazing app that is free for iOS and Android phones that measures the UV index with a quick plug in of a zip code. For those with lupus that affects the skin, this is a great tool to protect your skin from burning or from causing lesions or rashes from sun exposure. It is updated hourly, so you can check before leaving the house and make sure you are wearing UV blocking clothing if needed. Back to top
MANGO Health App
Want to earn pill-popping prizes? This is the app for you! This is a free iOS app that actually gives you incentives for taking your medication properly and on time! Simply plug in your dose and chart when you need to take a certain medication, and the app alerts you when its pill time. If you are successful in taking it correctly, you earn points! The points accumulate to different levels and higher levels equal incentives like: $1 donations made to ASPCA, or $5 Target gift cards! This is a great way to feel motivated to stay on track with taking your medications and taking them correctly. If you stay on target, you will get to shop at Target!!! Back to top
Lupus Tracker Pro
It can be really challenging to remember all the weird symptoms that come along with a complicated disease like lupus. And when you have a short office visit and start to panic because you have forgotten half the things you wanted to talk about, an Android app like Lupus Tracker Pro could definitely come in handy. For a mere $2.99, you can organize all your symptoms on a grid, and check off what you are feeling day-by-day. That way, when you are at your next doctors visit, you are not scrambling to remember how you were dizzy on Tuesday or had blood in your urine on Thursday. Back to top
Image InBox
This is an easy-to-use iOS app where you can store and share electronic copies of your radiology exams (i.e. CT scans, MRI’s, X-Ray’s, ultrasounds, or any other medical scan) so you no longer have to worry about keeping tract of exam CD’s and you can start taking control of important health information! Note: you must be at least 17 years old to download this free patient app, and it will soon be available for Android phones as well. Back to top
The Lupus Companion
This app designed by the American College of Rheumatology is developed by doctors in an easy-to-use format for people living with SLE. It has multiple features including: pain, fatigue and rash trackers, medication records, doctor appointment calendars, and a 3 month questionnaire to monitor overall disease activity. It is available on iOS phones and devices. Back to top
Wear Shade
Another helpful device with a downloadable application for your phone. https://www.wearshade.com/
Other Helpful Apps
Other notable iOS apps include: WebMD, The Lupus App, MyFitnessPal
Other notable Android apps: My Lupus Log, Lupus Connect
Sources: laptopmag.com/articles/best-lupus-apps, lifedespitelupus.com/2014/05/12/lupus-apps, nexgenic.com
Author: Kelli Roseta
All images unless otherwise noted are property of and were created by Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus. To use one of these images, please contact us at [email protected] for written permission; image credit and link-back must be given to Kaleidoscope Fighting Lupus.
All resources provided by us are for informational purposes only and should be used as a guide or for supplemental information, not to replace the advice of a medical professional. The personal views expressed here do not necessarily encompass the views of the organization, but the information has been vetted as a relevant resource. We encourage you to be your strongest advocate and always contact your healthcare practitioner with any specific questions or concerns.