11 ways your phone can make you HEALTHIER

It’s always in your pocket, so it’s time to use your phone to your advantage

- JENNY ROWE

Addicted to your device? It may not be a bad thing. Keeping tabs on your health is tough when you’re busy living your life, but if you have your phone with you every step of the way, it can do a lot of the hard work for you.

Our phones are capable of monitoring and tracking potential symptoms, and can even alert us when something goes wrong. Plus, apps now provide easy access to huge databases of health information. Here’s how your phone could help you stay healthy – and even save your life.

1 Stop you slowing down

Yes, your device can track your 10,000 daily steps, but what’s next? In the Apple Health app you can access other walking metrics, such as your average pace. Walking requires strength, fitness and coordination. If any of these decline, you might see your speed suffer. Check to see if yours have changed in the past year.

2 Save your life 

Already got your partner saved as your ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact in your phone? Go one step further and set up your Medical ID, pre-installed on Apple and Android phones. This allows medical details and contacts to be accessed even when your phone is locked.

3 Predict fall risk