Living with a chronic illness like lupus can be a challenge, but thanks to modern technology, there are many apps available that can help you manage your condition just a bit more effectively.  These apps provide features ranging from medication reminders to tracking symptoms, offering those living with chronic conditions a better grip on their health.

Here are the top 10 apps making an impact on chronic illness management:

• MyFitnessPal: This app allows you to track your food intake, exercise, and other lifestyle factors that can impact your health. It’s especially helpful for those with diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions that require careful monitoring of diet and exercise.
• Medisafe Medication Management: Medisafe is a medication management app that reminds you to take your medications on time and helps you keep track of your prescriptions and refills. It’s great for people with conditions that require multiple medications or complex dosing schedules. Beyond being a medication reminder, Medisafe provides motivation through supportive notifications and offers reports to show loved ones or medical practitioners the medication track record.
• CareZone: CareZone is a comprehensive health management app that allows you to track your medications, symptoms, appointments, and more. It’s particularly useful for people with multiple chronic conditions or complex health needs. IT allows users to scan medicine labels, creating a digital file of their medications. It also offers a journal feature, calendar, and to-do lists, making it a well-rounded health management tool.
  Headspace: Chronic illness can take a toll on your mental health, and Headspace is a meditation app that can help you manage stress and anxiety. It provides guided meditations, breathing exercises, and other tools to help you find calm and balance in your daily life.
• MyTherapy: MyTherapy is a medication management app that also includes tools for tracking symptoms, appointments, and other aspects of your health. It’s especially useful for people with conditions that require close monitoring and management, such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Sleep Cycle: Getting enough sleep is essential for good health, and Sleep Cycle is an app that can help you track your sleep patterns and improve the quality of your rest. It uses sound analysis and other techniques to wake you up at the optimal time in your sleep cycle, helping you feel more rested and refreshed.
• Fitbit: Fitbit is a fitness tracking app that allows you to monitor your physical activity, sleep, and other health metrics. It’s great for people with chronic conditions that require careful management of physical activity, such as COPD or heart disease.
• DailyBurn: Exercise is essential for good health, and DailyBurn is a fitness app that provides workout routines and other tools to help you stay active and healthy. It’s great for people with chronic conditions that require careful management of physical activity, such as osteoporosis or fibromyalgia.
• PillPack: While more than just an app, PillPack is a pharmacy that delivers pre-sorted medications right to your door. Their accompanying app keeps track of medications and even manages refills.
• My Pain Diary: Designed for chronic pain sufferers, this app offers users a way to document and track their pain, triggers, and other relevant symptoms. Over time, this can be used to identify patterns, making it a useful tool for discussions with healthcare providers.

Managing a chronic illness is no small feat. It requires diligence, awareness, and an organized approach. While managing a chronic illness like lupus can be more than challenging, collecting the right tools along your journey can help provide the support you need to navigate a full and healthy life. Thanks to the advances in technology, these apps can lend a hand in making the journey a bit smoother. Whether it’s reminding you of medications, tracking symptoms, or providing a meditative escape, there’s likely an app to fit your needs. However, always consult with your healthcare provider before making any significant changes to your treatment or management routines.

For lupus-specific support, reach out for 1:1 patient care coordination with Lupus LA at info@lupusla.org or attend one of our monthly Virtual Support Groups, available to patients across the globe. Learn more about Lupus LA’s Global Support Groups at lupusla.org/supportgroups.