HEALTH APPS OFFER PERSONALIZED TOUCH

If heart disease runs in your family, you don’t have to accept your fate and instead can take steps to lower your chances of getting it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these steps include eating a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, not

smoking, limiting alcohol use, checking your cholesterol, controlling your blood pressure and managing your diabetes if you have it.

They also recommend having screening tests that your doctor recommends and taking medication if needed to treat high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Since this checklist might feel overwhelming to some, there are many apps to help you on your way to maintaining your heart health so that you don’t feel alone in the process.

Here are some apps that give you a customized experience on your journey to living a healthy and sustainable lifestyle that can in turn impact your heart in positive ways.

One Drop

With the One Drop app you can discover how artificial intelligence and the human touch of health coaching can help you manage diabetes, blood pressure, heart health and weight. This is ideal for individuals with chronic health conditions.

A basic plan enables you to track health data, schedule reminders and sync with other health apps and devices.

A premium plan includes all features and, in addition, allows you to message a personal coach (credentialed health care professionals) at any time, get health forecasts and insights, change habits with personalized learning content and monitor health goals.

The app has 1.5 million members worldwide.

Plans: free basic plan or premium for $19.99 a month (can be paused or canceled at any time, and you can get a free 14-day trial of their premium plan)

For more information: www.onedrop.today

Welltory heart rate monitor

Billed as a “heart health expert in your pocket,” the app aims to improve your lifestyle. It helps you track your health to help you become the fittest version of yourself.

The app includes deep heart monitoring, blood pressure tracking and tracking of performance and recovery for workouts. Welltory analyzes your data day to day and gives personalized advice on how to improve your fitness and lifestyle

The app has 4 million downloads.

Plans: free basic plan or $12.99 per month for the Welltory Pro plan ($79.99 per year)

For more information: www.welltory.com

Noom

Noom takes you on a journey of the mind through exploring the psychology behind such areas as weight loss, mindful eating, joyful movement, self-care and emotional health.

The idea behind their habits-based approach is that users of the app will gain specific knowledge, tools and skills to help change habits, lose weight and make progress that positively impacts lifestyle.

The app aims to take you on a journey to establish healthy habits to keep weight off and lead you to a healthier and more fulfilling life. Noom includes food logging, a one-on-one coaching experience with personalized goal setting, healthy recipes and a water tracker to help you stay hydrated.

Plans: free to download and then in-app purchases available starting at $4.99

For more information: www.noom.com

COURTESY OF KAROLINA GRABOWSKA, FREE PUBLIC DOMAIN There are many apps that target the most important aspects of avoiding heart disease, including your approach to fitness and eating, to help you on your way to a healthy lifestyle.

COURTESY OF MIKHAIL NILOV, FREE PUBLIC DOMAIN Following a healthy diet can help prevent heart disease, and heart healthy apps can help you do that.