Podcast Summary: iOS Today 746: Managing Health & Illness

Episode Release Date: April 3, 2025
Hosts: Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard
Platform: TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Focus: Utilizing iOS apps and features to effectively manage health and illness.

1. Introduction

In episode 746 of iOS Today, hosts Micah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard delve into the myriad ways Apple’s ecosystem can aid in managing health and illness. The discussion spans built-in iOS features, third-party applications, and innovative tools designed to help users monitor symptoms, track fitness, and maintain overall well-being.

2. Apple Health App and Symptom Tracking

Micah initiates the conversation by exploring the Apple Health app's capabilities in tracking symptoms, a feature expanded in recent iOS updates.

Micah Sargent [03:20]: "Apple in one of its updates to iOS, added a huge list of symptoms that you could track both within the app, but I think more importantly for third-party apps to integrate and help you keep track of."

He enumerates various symptoms available for tracking, such as abdominal cramps, appetite changes, and shortness of breath, emphasizing the app’s comprehensive database. Micah shares his personal experience using the symptom tracker to monitor heart irregularities, highlighting its utility in providing tangible data for medical consultations.

Micah Sargent [07:45]: "When you use the ECG app on your Apple Watch, after you've done an ECG it will ask you are there any symptoms that you are feeling... it will log those for you in the symptoms section of the app."

The hosts underline the importance of symptom tracking in distinguishing between illness and allergies, advocating for users to leverage these features to gain insights into their health patterns.

3. Peak App for Widgets on iPhone

Rosemary introduces the Peak app, a tool designed to enhance the visibility of fitness metrics through customizable widgets on the iPhone home screen.

Rosemary Orchard [08:43]: "Peak is actually to provide you with widgets on your iPhone to show you fitness things, which personally I find to be quite helpful..."

She appreciates how Peak allows users to monitor various health indicators such as sleep quality, body temperature, and physical activity levels at a glance. Rosemary highlights the app’s flexibility in catering to different health management needs, including those suffering from conditions like seasonal affective disorder by tracking time spent in daylight.

Rosemary Orchard [10:15]: "Seeing your time in daylight as a widget can definitely help with managing things like that."

The app’s developer responsiveness and the availability of a free version with optional subscriptions make Peak a versatile choice for users seeking enhanced health monitoring tools.

4. Pollen and Air Quality Apps: My Pollen Forecast Pro and Plume Labs

Micah transitions to discussing My Pollen Forecast Pro, an app that provides localized pollen counts and forecasts, essential for individuals managing allergies.

Micah Sargent [12:49]: "My Pollen Forecast Pro... shows you in your area the current pollen count by displaying it kinda as a gradient from green to red and will give you a forecast of what is to be expected..."

He explains how the app factors in wind conditions to offer a more accurate pollen dispersion forecast, aiding users in anticipating and mitigating allergy symptoms. Additionally, Micah introduces Plume Labs, a free app that tracks overall air quality, offering daily forecasts and real-time pollution maps.

Micah Sargent [16:30]: "Plume Labs... lets you just track air quality as a whole. You can get the kind of daily forecast of the air quality around you."

These applications collectively enable users to discern whether their discomfort stems from environmental factors or underlying health issues, thereby facilitating informed health management decisions.

5. Fitness Tracking Apps: Pedometer ++ and Sleep ++

Rosemary spotlights the Pedometer ++ and Sleep ++ apps developed by David Smith, also known as Underscore. These apps integrate seamlessly with Apple Health to provide detailed insights into physical activity and sleep patterns.

Rosemary Orchard [19:22]: "Pedometer ++ is free to download and then there is an in-app subscription of I think it’s $7.99 a year to unlock everything."

She illustrates how Pedometer ++ tracks steps, floors climbed, and offers badges for milestones, motivating users to maintain or increase their activity levels. The app’s ability to merge data from both the iPhone and Apple Watch ensures accurate step counts and comprehensive activity logs.

Rosemary Orchard [20:42]: "If you have an Apple Watch and an iPhone, then you can use Pedometer ++ because it hooks into the Apple Health data."

Sleep ++ complements this by monitoring sleep quality, enabling users to identify patterns and make adjustments for better rest, which is crucial for overall health management.

6. Visible App for Long-term Illness Management

The Visible app takes center stage as Rosemary discusses its application for individuals dealing with long-term or invisible illnesses, such as Long COVID.

Rosemary Orchard [24:01]: "Visible is primarily marketed at people who are suffering from long-term illnesses and so on... you actually get a Polar armband which you then connect to the Visible app."

Visible utilizes a Polar armband to track heart rate and activity levels, translating this data into "pace points" that help users manage their daily energy expenditure. This feature is particularly beneficial for those whose energy levels fluctuate unpredictably, allowing them to pace themselves and prevent burnout.

Rosemary Orchard [26:00]: "You can actually look at all this data and you can see... Maybe I actually do need to just go lie down and watch a couple of episodes of something on television right now because I am not having a good day."

The app's integration with reliable hardware from Polar underscores its effectiveness in providing actionable health insights, making it a valuable tool for managing chronic conditions.

7. Feedback: Adjusting Volume Settings in iOS and CarPlay

During the feedback segment, Robert shares his frustration with the separate volume controls for navigation and media on iOS devices, particularly when using CarPlay.

Robert's Feedback [28:15]: "Sometimes the navigation voice will be very quiet while the music or podcast playing will be a normal volume... It seems like this is a well-hidden feature that could be helpful for some to know."

Micah and Rosemary discuss potential solutions, including accessing separate volume controls in the car’s dashboard settings or using Siri commands to adjust the navigation volume independently.

Micah Sargent [30:40]: "Thought about that is can you read my last message to me because it forces Siri to be communicating, then you could boop boop, boop, boop, boop boop, turn it up and turn it down from there."

Rosemary adds practical tips to prevent unintended volume adjustments, such as ensuring phone mounts do not press volume buttons inadvertently.

8. Shortcuts Corner: Custom Shortcut for Logging Symptoms

In the Shortcuts Corner, Rosemary demonstrates how to create a custom shortcut to streamline symptom logging within the Apple Health app, enhancing the user experience by simplifying data entry.

Rosemary Orchard [35:01]: "Medication tracking being one of those... we can't do anything about the medication tracking, but we can do something to make symptom tracking a little bit easier."

She guides listeners through setting up a one-action shortcut using the "Log Health Sample" feature, allowing for quick logging of various symptoms like cramps or headaches with a single tap. This customization empowers users to build a personalized symptom diary, facilitating more accurate health monitoring and providing valuable data for medical consultations.

Rosemary Orchard [39:45]: "It is a particularly good way of being able to log things, especially if you're trying to determine if you have a health issue or you're just trying to build a log of data..."

Micah underscores the importance of data-driven self-advocacy in healthcare, emphasizing how such tools can substantiate personal health experiences during medical appointments.

Micah Sargent [41:17]: "To be able to advocate for yourself in those situations is a lot easier when you have the data to back it up."

9. Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Micah and Rosemary encouraging listeners to engage with their community through Club Twit and share their experiences and preferences regarding health management apps. They reiterate the significance of leveraging technology to take proactive control of one’s health, fostering a well-informed and empowered user base.

Micah Sargent [43:13]: "Thank you so much for tuning in today to watch the show. Thank you so much for your support. We will be back again next week for another episode of iOS Today..."

Key Takeaways

• Apple Health App: Offers extensive symptom tracking, crucial for monitoring health and aiding medical consultations.

• Peak App: Enhances fitness tracking through customizable home screen widgets, providing at-a-glance health metrics.

• Pollen and Air Quality Apps: Tools like My Pollen Forecast Pro and Plume Labs help distinguish between allergy symptoms and other illnesses by monitoring environmental factors.

• Pedometer ++ and Sleep ++: Comprehensive tracking of physical activity and sleep patterns integrates seamlessly with Apple Health, motivating healthier lifestyles.

• Visible App: Specialized for long-term illness management, offering detailed activity tracking to prevent overexertion.

• Volume Control Feedback: Awareness of separate volume settings in iOS and CarPlay can alleviate frustrations with inconsistent audio levels.

• Shortcuts Corner: Creating custom shortcuts in iOS can significantly streamline health data logging, enhancing personal health management.

By harnessing the power of iOS and its ecosystem of apps, iOS Today equips listeners with the knowledge to effectively monitor and manage their health, promoting a proactive approach to well-being.