Can Health Apps Help People in Real Life?

mHealth (mobile health) has emerged as one of the most profitable mobile health markets, with an estimated global revenue of 189 billion USD in 2025. Mobile health services adopted by health companies such as pharmaceuticals, health equipment, biotechnology, and healthcare services, among others, help their customers manage their health and maintain wellness..

But are these health apps working, helping real people achieve wellness? Can health apps help people?  Let's find out the answers to this intriguing question and shine a light on the use of mHealth apps.

Can Health Apps Promote Health and Wellness?

A Harvard Business Review featured the study of the effects of health apps.The study focused on people who used health apps on their smartphones and desktops and those who don't use this kind of app. The results proved the value of using health apps and recommended health professionals and health-related companies and businesses use these apps for improved personalized services.

How Do Health Apps Help in Real Life?

There are many kinds of health apps. Learning about the different types will give you insights into how these can help users.

Diet and Nutrition Apps

One of the ways to promote health and wellness is to maintain a healthy weight. Overweight or underweight people can use diet and nutrition apps to help monitor daily food intake, the number of calories they ingest or burn, and the activities performed every day. These factors can determine the amount of weight they can lose or gain.

There are many diet and nutrition apps available. These are primarily downloadable to smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, or other wearable devices. Just some of the most popular diet and nutrition apps today:

• Start Simple with MyPlate – This app is from the USDA, which helps users make budget-friendly, healthy meals.
• MOVE! Coach App – This is a weight loss app developed for veterans, military service personnel, families, and anyone who wants to shed weight.
• FoodKeeper App – This app is from the USDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Service. It helps users use, keep, and eat all kinds of food.

Hospital Selection and Doctor’s Appointment Tracking App

Some apps assist people looking for hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, and dental offices. As mentioned by Digital Authority Partners, this kind of app can help patients and doctors.

Hospital selection apps are beneficial, especially during the pandemic when finding available hospitals is very hard. Users can use this kind of app to get medical help right away.

Some hospitals and clinics have adapted their booking app. Some doctors also use apps like Practo, which books doctors and other medical professionals coming from multiple medical sites.

• Help find hospitals and clinics near you.
• Schedule a doctor’s visit. Users get free reminders as the appointment draws near.
• Save essential files like prescriptions, diagnostic exam orders, invoices, etc.
• It securely stores patient files for future use.
• Schedules vaccinations, save vaccination information.

Medication Tracking App

Medication apps help users track their medicines and their dosage, frequency, and supply. With a medication tracking app, patients won't miss their doses. Plus, they will know if they need to replenish their supply. Pharmaceutical companies adopt this app, and pharmacies expect a handy medication booking feature for easy replenishment.

• Track the medications you’re currently and previously using.
• Track and monitor any side effects.
• Provide handy information about different drugs, including drug interactions and side effects.

Menstrual Tracking App

Women planning or preventing pregnancy and those with menstrual cycle problems will benefit from menstrual tracking apps. These apps will help you track your cycle, note symptoms, and provide tips on promoting wellness to enhance reproductive health.

• Offer a handy tracking system.
• Reference and take notes for birth control or family planning.
• Notes symptoms that may help diagnose diseases of the reproductive system.

Pregnancy App

Pregnant women can benefit so much from pregnancy apps. This app can monitor the many changes to a woman’s body during pregnancy. You can also keep track of your weight, symptoms, medications, vaccinations, doctor’s visits, and more.

• Track your vitals for easy monitoring from the first to the third trimester.
• Remind you of your doctor’s visits and medications.
• Provides a checklist of what to prepare for the big day.
• Provide tips on eating, managing pregnancy symptoms, and overall wellness.

Sleep Cycle App

People with sleeping problems and those that need sleep can use a sleep cycle app. This app will track your sleeping habits and remind you if you lack sleep for the day. Most sleep cycle apps are part of wearable devices as the app needs to track a person’s sleep-wake cycle.

• Can track the number of hours you slept in a day.
• Can provide tips on how to sleep well.
• Can track prescription medications for sleep.

Sports and Fitness Tracking Apps

Part of wearable devices, sports and fitness tracking apps help users track their daily stats depending on what sport or activity they are currently engaged in. For example, if you’re biking, apps like Strava and MapMyRide can show your route, speed, calories burned, and other helpful information. In addition, these fitness tracking apps may connect to your social media site. As a result, you can share your progress with your friends, family, and followers.

• Track your speed, location, and more.
• Tracks your vitals: heart rate, respiration, calories burned.
• Provides tips and strategies to improve your runs and achieve your goals.
• Keeps your daily records and uploads them to an online app for management.
• Creates reports

Weight Loss Coaching Apps

Weight loss is more effortless when you have a coach to lead you every step of the way. With this kind of app, you can safely lose weight through dieting, living actively, and following healthy living practices. Most weight loss apps are available from fitness products, gyms, and pharmaceutical products.

• Tracks your weight and provides achievable goals.
• Recommends activities, weight loss tips, and strategies.
• Connected to social media for easy progress sharing.
• It helps you lose weight quickly and safely.

Final Words

When used correctly, health apps can help people manage health conditions, lose weight, promote wellness, ease symptoms, and prepare a healthier and safer life for their families and themselves. In addition, if you have a health-related business, considering an app can be one of the best ways to promote your brand and better engage with your clients.