How to turn your phone into a personal health dashboard
This guide explains how to utilize built-in health apps on smartphones to track wellness metrics like steps, diet, and medical records. It compares the features of Google, Samsung, and Apple health ecosystems.
Why it matters
As personal health tracking becomes more accessible, understanding how to manage digital health data is increasingly relevant for individual wellness management.
The health app on your phone’s home screen has many uses, even if you don’t have a smartwatch or fitness tracker. With a little manual effort, you can use the app to get a better idea of your general wellness.
For example, you can keep a food-and-fitness diary there. Most phones provide a free basic step-counting function. And you can link other exercise and diet apps you use to streamline your data.
Many medical providers let you import records from your doctor, and you can create a “medical ID” for your phone’s lock screen in case of emergency.
Although third-party options abound, the basic health apps from Google, Samsung and Apple have been available for years and have been steadily adding new features:
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