For PD: How To Set Up Your Health app (on iOS)
Living with Parkinson's can be challenging, but Apple Health can be a helpful tool to track your symptoms and progress. This guide will walk you through setting up and using the Health app on your iPhone to monitor key aspects of your condition.
What You'll Need:
Please make sure your iPhone has the latest iOS update installed. You can check for updates by going to Settings > General > Software Update.)
An Apple Watch (recommended for accuracy, but not required)
Getting Started:
Open the Health app. It's a grey app with a heart icon.
Take a Tour: If you're new to the app, tap "Get Started" for a quick tutorial.
Track Your Symptoms:
Apple Health offers a suite of tools to help you monitor key symptoms of Parkinson's disease and gain insights into your overall health. Here's a breakdown of the functionalities you can leverage:
Tremor: While there isn't direct tremor tracking yet, you can effectively utilize the "Mindfulness" feature under "Mind & Body" to monitor tremor frequency. Set a timer for a few minutes, close your eyes, and focus on noticing tremors during the session. After it concludes, tap the three dots (...) and select "Add Notes" to record the observed tremor frequency.
Balance: Assess your steadiness with the "Walking Steadiness" feature (available only on iPhones). Navigate to "Browse" and tap "Walking Steadiness." Carefully follow the on-screen instructions to complete the short walking test. The app will then calculate your overall steadiness score.
Steps: Keeping active is crucial for everyone, especially for managing balance and coordination with Parkinson's. The Health app automatically tracks your daily steps under "Activity." Set a healthy step goal to stay motivated and maintain movement.
Sleep: Prioritize quality sleep, as it's essential for everyone, particularly those with Parkinson's. Utilize the "Sleep" section to track your sleep patterns and aim for 7-8 hours of restful sleep each night.
Additional Recommended Monitoring:
Water Intake: Staying hydrated is vital for overall health. Track your water intake within the Health app to ensure you are drinking enough.
Exercise: Regular exercise is a cornerstone of managing Parkinson's symptoms. Use the Workout app (green icon with a running figure) to track your exercise routines and monitor your progress.
Time in Daylight: Aim to spend 20 minutes outdoors daily to reap the benefits of sunlight exposure, which can improve mood and overall well-being. While there's no direct tracking in Health, some weather apps or location-based services may offer this feature.
Mental Wellbeing: Feeling stressed? Explore the "Mindfulness" section for guided meditations and breathing exercises designed to help you relax and manage stress effectively.
For Tech Lovers
Set up medications
Track all your medications in one place
Set reminders on your phone to take your medications at the right time
Setting Up Tracking:
Now that you know what you can track, here's how to set it up in the Health app:
Tremor (Mindfulness):
Go to "Browse" and tap "Mind & Body."
Choose a guided meditation session or set a timer for your desired duration (a few minutes recommended).
Close your eyes and focus on noticing tremors during the session.
After the session, tap the three dots (...) and choose "Add Notes" to record the tremor frequency.
Balance (Walking Steadiness):
Go to "Browse" and tap "Walking Steadiness."
Carefully follow the on-screen instructions to complete the short walking test.
The app will automatically calculate your overall steadiness score.
Steps:
No setup is needed! Your iPhone automatically tracks your steps throughout the day.
Sleep (Apple Watch Recommended):
If you have an Apple Watch, enable "Sleep Tracking" in the Watch app on your iPhone.
Wear your Apple Watch to bed for the most accurate sleep data.
You can view your sleep data in the Sleep section of the Health app.
Water Intake:
Go to "Browse" and tap "Hydration."
Tap the "+" icon and enter the amount of water you drink throughout the day.
You can also set a daily water goal in the Hydration settings.
Exercise:
Open the Workout app (green icon with a running figure).
Choose a workout type (walking, running, yoga, etc.) or create a custom workout.
Adding Notes and Tags:
Adding notes to your tracked data can be very helpful. For example, in the "Mindfulness" session notes, you can mention the intensity or location of tremors.
To add notes: After completing a tracking session (Mindfulness or Walking Steadiness), tap the three dots (...) and choose "Add Notes."
Viewing Your Data:
Daily, Weekly, Monthly Views: Open the Health app and tap on a specific category (e.g., Steps, Sleep) to see daily, weekly, or monthly trends.
Trends: Swipe down on any category screen to see trends over time.
Additional Tips:
Medical ID:
Set up your Medical ID in the Health app. This can provide emergency responders with crucial information about your Parkinson's diagnosis and medications.
Go to "Health" > your profile picture (top right) > "Medical ID" and fill in the details.
Privacy: Review your Health app privacy settings to control what data is shared with other apps.
Go to "Settings" > "Privacy" > "Health."
Getting Help:
If you encounter any difficulties using the Health app, you can:
Search online for tutorials or visit Apple's support page: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/monitor-your-walking-steadiness-iphff1bf03ed/ios
Contact Apple Support directly.
We hope this guide empowers you to take control of your health and track your Parkinson's symptoms using Apple Health
This guide is meant for informational purposes only. Always consult your doctor for personalized advice on managing your Parkinson's.
Apple Health is a helpful tool, but it's not a replacement for professional medical evaluation and treatment.
