Mastering the Health App

While the Health app has been around since, well, iOS 8, it can still be difficult figuring out exactly what it’s for. It’s not the most intuitive default app around, although when used right it offers user a powerful tool to track important health metrics like their weight, blood glucose levels, and more. It’s an undervalued app and here’s how you can make the best of it and truly master it.

Use it to Track Your Exercise

            Unfortunately, this feature is only available for the iPhone 5s and the 6 family, among other more recent phones. But your phone can actually track iPhone with phone number. To pull up this data, just visit the Health Data tab and pull up Fitness. Mark the metrics, such as Flights Climbed and Steps, that you want to know about by enabling Show on Dashboard. You’ll now be able to view these any time you want.

            You can also remove data points that aren’t important to you. Go back to Health Data. You can enable or disable the health metrics that you’d like to see. Don’t want to see your sleep metrics? You can disable it. It’s easy to toggle off and you can easily toggle it back on if you change your mind.

Your Medical ID

            In danger? Had a serious accident? Set up Medical ID so emergency responders can see your identity and figure out your allergies, medical conditions, and anything else they might need to know when helping you out. Add as much information as you know, including any conditions you might have and your blood type. Just make sure you enable it to be viewed from your lock screen so respondents can use emergency mode to pull it up.

Sync With Other Apps

            Other apps can provide health metric data. Whether it’s My Fitness Pal or another spyware for cell phone, just make sure you edit permissions through the Sources app. It’s simple to set up and you can’t go without it if you’re someone who uses fitness apps in order to work out and shape up. This works with some devices too, like smart scales and wearables so make sure you’re willing to noodle around with it.

            This is basically the entire point of the Health app. It provides one unified hub for all of your important health data. Be sure to take advantage of it. The Health app only works if you make it work for you.

Adding Your Own Data

            But you’re not just limited to the data you can pull up from apps. If you don’t use other fitness apps or just want to record other information, you can manually add in things like your weight and other body measurements. Try to be as accurate as possible and use up to date measurements. You can then use the Health app as a weight management tool or have up to date information on your medical ID.

Landscape Mode

            Turn your phone to the side. You’ll then be able to view all your health data in landscape mode and can spy mobile phone. It’s intuitive, visual, and provides a great way to get an accurate picture about the state of your health at any point in time. This feature was added to the app in iOS 9.

            While Apple’s Health App certainly isn’t perfect, it can be a powerful tool when used right. Use these tips to get the most out of this iOS 8 headliner and make the most out of your health.