The common notion that exists in the status quo is that smartphones do not contribute to a person’s health and is, in fact, a primary cause for the degradation of one’s physical and mental health. Addiction to social media and usage of smartphones are associated with laziness, a strain of eyesight and degradation of mental health. However, these are some possible side effects that can be avoided by using smartphones sensibly. In fact, if used intelligently, smartphones can do the exact opposite of the common convention and supplement existing health care amenities and facilities very easily. Herein, we discuss how smartphones benefit health with the help of some amazing features.

Applications on Fitness
Most smartphones, if not all, have apps for fitness tracking. These apps are generally powered by motion sensors and track the steps taken by a person and the number of calories burnt. These can be calculated per week, per month and even a per-year basis. Some of these apps even give timely targets to achieve to increase the level of fitness. People who are looking to achieve an advanced level of fitness can use other apps at their disposal to learn from fitness experts and implement their advice from the comforts of their home. One’s health can greatly benefit from the help of such smartphone apps.

Medical ID
This feature is mostly prevalent in Apple products. iPhones have an app called “Health” (white display with an icon of the Heart). This app can be used to set up a Medical ID in case of emergencies. In the event that the user of the phone is immobilized, doctors and caretakers can access the medical ID of the user by tapping on the “Emergency” option even when the phone is locked. It will provide relevant information at times of contingencies. This information can include blood type, emergency contacts, allergies, and other information the user thinks is necessary to fill out.

Voice-activated Features
This might be a feature that people would hope they would not have to use but will always be glad that they can. To provide some context, the case of Gael Salcedo is an interesting one. This 18-year-old boy in Iowa lost control of his truck on a bridge and hit the water. As he was drowning, he frantically looked around for his phone to call for help. Although he did not find it, he yelled, “Siri, call 911!!” and the iPhone’s voice assistant promptly responded to his command. This voice assistant feature is also available on Android phones which are enabled by Google.

Tracking Loved Ones
A general disclaimer for those who wish to use these features

• There needs to be mutual consent between all those who are going to be tracked to give up a certain part of their privacy.
• It is highly recommended that this feature is not abused and is utilized only for purposes of emergencies.

With features such as Find My iPhone and Find My Friends, it is possible to make sure they are safe at times where their whereabouts are unknown and is a cause for worry.

The apps and features mentioned above exemplify how one can benefit from the help of smartphones.