You are feeling under the weather, but you have already maxed out your sick days at work. And who really wants to spend an afternoon in a doctor’s waiting room?
So before you head out to your local drugstore to stock up on Tylenol, Benadryl and whatever else you think might help you feel better, check out the following health and wellness-related apps. They are by no means a substitute for a professional, but they can certainly fill in if you find yourself in a pinch.
Headaches are among the most common ailments, and in the most severe cases they can be among the most debilitating. For those who suffer from serious and/or recurring headaches, there is the iHeadache app (free). It allows you to get a handle on your headaches first my recording when they occur. And taking it one step further, the app also helps you figure out what triggers the headaches by having you record factors such as diet, sleep, stress etc.
The Diagnosis & Therapy app (free) includes a thorough glossary of medical terms and symptom descriptions that will help break it all down for you. If, for example, you are considering taking cold and cough medicine, but don’t know exactly what they do, this app will explain it all.
Symptom Checker .MD (free) app prompts you to type in your symptoms, and then provides you with tons of search results, including news reports and local health care providers. It might seem a little difficult to sift through all the info, but the app does include a “recommended results” category which helps to narrow it down.
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If you are looking to get a handle on very specific symptoms, try the Medical Symptoms app (free). All you have to do is scroll down the list and tap on whichever of the symptoms apply to you. There are categories for everything from abdominal pain to breathing problems to stuttering.
Already one of the most popular health-related websites, the WebMD app (free) is a great place to start for a cursory diagnosis. It is divided into five categories, including symptom checker, conditions, drugs and treatment, first aid information and local health listings – everything you could need when facing a health crisis. The app truly is a wealth of information, each symptom is linked to a dozen possible causes, each of which are then linked to a dozen possible remedies.
Every parent has experienced staying up all night with a child suffering from an ear infection. Ever try to remember the proper way to remove a bee sting. The KidsCheckup app (free) is perfect for those moments when you are sure if you should offer a hug, or if you need to call 911. It includes a subcategory titled “Is this an Emergency?” which addresses things such as choking, dehydration and tooth injuries. The following subcategory is titled “What Do I Do?” And while the app is geared toward families with young children, the content is applicable to all age groups.
Download the free Appolicious iPhone app
