UPDATED 11:00 EDT / JANUARY 04 2013

10 Apps To Help You Survive The Flu Season

The dreaded flu season unfortunately had a huge headstart this year.  According to Sickweather, a social media-public health startup, Twitter and Facebook users helped them identify the early start of flu season, six weeks earlier than the CDC.  The early onset of flu season was logged in October and people from social media networks have reported getting sick starting in August.  It could very well be the climate change is one of the factors for the early arrival of  flu season.

“This has been a very early and bad flu season so far this year. Normally we see an average of 200 cases per season, but it is only Jan. 3 and we already have seen more than 260 confirmed cases,” said Edward Hospital’s Infection Control Manager Mary Anderson. “There have been many years where we see only a handful of cases before it picks up in January through March, so this has been a very unusual year for us.”

Since this is something we can’t just shoo away, all we can do is prep ourselves and hope we won’t be plagued by congestion, coughs and runny noses.  Aside from getting a flu shot, we can utilize mobile apps to help us get through the flu season almost unscathed.

FluView

This app from the CDC helps you explore Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) Activity Levels across the US, view ILI trends over several weeks, and get on-demand access to state health department websites for local surveillance information.

iTriage

This app lets you search symptoms, learn about potential causes and even helps you find the most appropriate treatment, facility or doctor.  So if you’re unsure if you have the flu, download this app to help you get on the right track.

ZocDoc

This app helps you find and book a doctor’s appointment in three simple steps: enter your zip code & insurance, see a list of doctors and their available times, click to book an appointment! And the best part about it is that it’s free.

WebMD

This app lets you check your symptoms, access drug & treatment information, get first aid essentials, and check local health listings on the go, from the most trusted brand in health information.

RXmindMe Prescription

This app allows you to enter your prescriptions, setup reminders for each one of your meds, and track them so you don’t overdose.  So if you’re one of those who keep forgetting to take your meds, this app will help you stay on schedule and get better faster.

SleepCycle

Getting enough sleep every night is still one of the best ways to deflect the flu.  It ensures that your body’s immunity is in its best form to ward off diseases.  This app wakes you in your lightest sleep phase so you’ll feel like you’ve had enough sleep instead of feeling like you’ve been dragged out of bed.

Flu Defender

This app provides vital information about the flu, prevents flu prevention behavior, and helps you identify flu symptoms.  It will also find available vaccines in your area, and provides real-time tweets from the CDC.

Reader’s Digest Easy Home Remedies

If you’re one of those people who aren’t fond of taking pharmaceutical meds and prefers a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup to fight of the flu, then you’ll be happy to get this app.  It gives you recipes for home remedies to help you fight off the flu and other common illnesses.

iTherapy

If you’re more into holistic healing, this app will help you find the best holistic technique to dodge the flu or other illnesses.  The app will also help you find a holistic therapist near you, and gives you guides to therapies such as Acupuncture, Aromatherapy, Champissage, Colour Therapy, Herbal, Medicine, Homeopathy, Hypnotherapy, Japanese Cosmo Lifting, Massage, Meditation, Reiki, Shiatsu, and Zero Balancing.

Fight The Flu

This app lets you track flu activity in your area, check the symptoms of flu, get flu prevention tips, and even informs you of what to do if you’ve been exposed to flu.

Apps and vaccines can only do so much.  It’s still our responsibility to help prevent the erradic spreading of disease.  If you’re sick, it would be best to stay indoors to minimize the effects of a contagion  and remember to cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough and always, always wash your hands!

 


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