Since the advent of the smartphone, health apps have proliferated. A mobile health app can track everything from your daily steps to your blood pressure. While many people find these apps for healthcare helpful, some have concerns about their safety and efficacy.
In this article, we will explore the pros and cons of health and wellness apps. One of the drawbacks can be compromised data and online privacy.
We’ll discuss the best health apps more later in the article, along with answering the following questions:
- What are the disadvantages of health apps?
- Are health apps effective?
So, if you are also a health software user and want to know how effective that software is, then keep reading this article!
But first let’s briefly discuss what health apps are if you don’t know about them before.
What are Health Apps?
Health apps are essentially mobile phone applications that help people manage their health and wellbeing. They can be used to track activity, monitor diet and nutrition, record symptoms, and communicate with healthcare professionals.
There are thousands of wellness applications on Apple and Google Play Store that people can download and use. Some amazing ones are the following:
- Medisafe Pill Minder
- Medical ID
- Dminder
- MyFitnessPal
- Apple Health
Now, let’s discuss the benefits and drawbacks of using healthcare software.
Advantages of Healthcare Applications:
Easy Access to Functionalities:
Healthcare software programs are beneficial to both patients and doctors. For patients, they offer easy access to the various functionalities of the platform. This can include anything from booking appointments to viewing their medical records.
Healthcare platforms also allow patients to communicate with their doctor more easily. In addition, many healthcare software programs offer educational resources that can help patients better understand their condition.
For doctors, healthcare platforms offer a way to keep track of their patients’ medical history. Doctors can also use healthcare software to order prescriptions and send referrals. Additionally, wellness platforms provide doctors with a way to connect with their patients on a more personal level.
Improved Patient Monitoring:
Healthcare programs can provide improved patient monitoring for both physicians and patients. Physicians can use healthcare apps to view patient data in real-time, improving diagnosis and treatment plans.
Patients can use healthcare apps to monitor their own health, provide feedback to their physicians and promote self-care.
Easy Communication with Professionals:
Healthcare professionals can easily communicate with patients through healthcare software programs. This allows for quick and easy communication between the professional and the patient. And ask quick questions or share concerns with them.
Patient Community:
There are many advantages to wellness apps, but one of the most important is their ability to connect patients with each other. This Patient Community can share information, support one another, and find hope in the midst of difficult diagnoses.
It is said that patients who used an app to connect with other patients reported feeling more supported and having a better understanding of their disease.
The Patient Community can also help doctors keep track of potential problems and identify new research opportunities.
Integration with Wearable Devices:
One of the main advantages of integrating healthcare apps with wearable devices is that it enables patients to track their health data in real-time. This can help them to better manage their health and make informed decisions about their treatment.
Disadvantages of Healthcare Apps:
Data Privacy:
Healthcare apps often require access to a variety of personal information, such as medical history, contact information, and payment information. This information can be valuable to hackers and can be used for identity theft or other malicious activities.
Additionally, many healthcare apps share data with third-party companies, which could lead to the release of confidential information.
One way to avoid exposing the original IP address is by using a reputable VPN. A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a service that lets you access the internet safely and privately, directing your traffic through the server and helping to hide IP for maximum security. We recommend people use VeePN while accessing the internet connected application for protection against hackers.
Requires Internet Connection:
One disadvantage is that wellness software requires a stable internet connection in order to function. This can be a problem for patients who live in rural areas or who have limited internet access.
Expensive:
Many healthcare apps are expensive. The price of an app can range from a couple of dollars to a few hundred dollars for a single appointment. While this may not seem like a lot of money, over the course of a year, these costs can add up.
In addition, many people do not have the funds to purchase healthcare apps. This leaves some people unable to take advantage of the benefits that these apps offer.
Lack of Accurate Information:
One common disadvantage is that the information provided by these apps is often not accurate. This inaccurate information can be dangerous for patients, as it can lead to them making incorrect decisions about their health.
For example, if an app incorrectly tells a patient that they do not have high blood pressure, they may not seek treatment for their condition when they actually need it.
In conclusion, there are pros and cons to using health apps. While they can be helpful tools for tracking and managing health information, they can also be unreliable and invasive. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of each app before deciding whether or not to use it.
