Asthma sufferers are acutely aware of the dangers around them, but like any condition, keeping track of it on a regular basis can be difficult, as can finding new resources to learn about asthma. One recent advancement in the understanding and awareness of asthma is smartphone apps, some of which are designed for the individual user, and some are designed for families. As always, if you suffer from asthma and don’t understand the scope of it, you should always consult with a medical professional.
Allergy FT
First thing’s first – Allergy FT isn’t free (it costs $2.99) and is only available on the App Store – however, it is a handy little thing to have with you, allowing you to track all of your allergens, and those of your family members, specifically to guide you through difficult culinary situations. The app can translate your allergies into French, Spanish, and German if you’re somewhere where any of those is the primary language, and you can create profiles for your family members, as well.
Propeller Health
Propeller Health uses a Bluetooth-enabled sensor that attaches to your inhaler, monitoring your intake and reminding you when to take your medicine. It tracks the frequency of your inhaler use and can be set up to send alerts to your physician should your condition worsen. Propeller Health is on the App Store and the Google Play Store.
Allergy Eats
Another app for tracking food allergens is Allergy Eats, which specifically allows you to find restaurants considered to be “allergy-friendly.” Users rate restaurants based on that criteria, and you can make your decision based on those reviews. You can find it on the App Store or the Google Play Store.
WebMD Allergy
WebMD’s allergy app shows you the day’s pollen count and allows you to track any allergic reactions you’ve had and creates a report which you can show to your doctor. It is great for helping you plan your day and to keep track of how you react to your environment. It is on the App Store and the Google Play Store.
SkinSafe
SkinSafe is an allergy app designed to help you avoid ingredients in everyday products that might trigger your allergies. You can even use the app to scan products in-store to make sure there is nothing you are allergic to amongst its ingredients. You can even add products not already in the database to the SkinSafe database through the app, helping other people discover safe or not safe products. SkinSafe is on the App Store.
Summary
Even if you know everything about your allergies, speaking with a medical professional will help you understand them a little better. They can help you determine best practices for avoiding allergens and that will let you know which app will be ideal for helping you out in the real world. If you know someone or are someone with allergies and communication difficulties, having a record of this information at the ready can help with difficult situations.