Technology and Health: Log On, Get Healthy

The beauty of the Internet is that you never have to walk alone. It can hook you up with not only trackers and tools but also a network of support buddies to push, prod, and cheer you on. The same technologies that let you gawk at videos of dancing cats or reconnect with what's-his-name from second grade can give you a healthier, hotter (hey, go for it!) body. Here are six proven ways to kick off your own e-health revolution:

1. Beep! Take that pill! Up to 45% of us don't take prescription drugs the way our docs intended (forget betting on when the economy will turn around; under- or overdoing our meds may be the real national pastime). That can put us at risk for nasty drug reactions and wild rides to the ER. Instead, download a clever iPhone app called Medsy. It stores schedules for multiple medications and sends you discreet take-me-now reminders with instructions. No, it doesn't need cell phone coverage to work. Medsy is smarter than that.

2. Stop counting calories in your head. If you're constantly running a mental calorie tab, these apps are for you. They track calories eaten/burned, portion sizes, and food choices -- and tracking can boost your weight loss by up to 50%. That's partly because knowledge is power: It's easier to resist the triple-scoop ice cream sundae when you know it's packing 800 calories! Make it simple with DailyBurn.com, an online site plus iPhone app that logs calories in (what you're munching while you read this) and calories out (how many you burn forking in another bite). A site called FatSecret.com has downloadable apps that track calories for Droid and Blackberry users. Another Droid download at CardioTrainer.com tracks your running or walking pace and calories burned; it also saves new outdoor routes so you can find 'em again.

3. Get a new workout without leaving home. Bored with the weight-lifting routine you've been doing since 1998? Ready for some new yoga moves but don't want to trek to a studio? Got 10 minutes before lunch and want to move a little? Turn the Internet into an instant personal trainer. At RealAge.com, try the 20-Minute Workout from the YOU Docs or the online video walking program. There's also a beginner's yoga sequence there. (Try it now.) Find basic stretches in the video library at Cleveland Clinic's wellness site, 360-5.com (one of Dr. Mike's pet projects). And smartphone app stores are loaded with exercise routines.

4. Lower your blood pressure and lousy LDL cholesterol. Recording their blood pressure (BP) numbers online daily helped 58% of people with hypertension keep a lid on it; in comparison, just 38% of people who got rechecked monthly by their docs did as well. Online tracking for BP, cholesterol, diabetes, asthma, and other conditions lets you spot trends in real time, so you can adjust your diet, exercise, or medications pronto. There are terrific apps like BP Buddy and AsthmaMD for iPhones, as well as HandyLogs Heart for BlackBerry users. Check out TheCarrot.com and Ringful.com for online and smartphone programs that monitor everything from blood sugar to lung function. You can even track your emotions (useful if you're grappling with depression or bipolar disorder) with apps like Mood Journal Plus (download it at Blackberry.com). Try these tips to get more accurate blood pressure readings.

5. Get sleepy or happy. But not dopey (this isn't about Snow White's favorite dwarfs). Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) can relieve mild depression or help you beat insomnia, with practical sessions aimed at reversing self-defeating thoughts and actions. The e-bonus? You can get help in your jammies and bunny slippers. Try the well-designed program at CBTforInsomnia.com, from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, or the free "mood gym" run by Australia's Centre for Mental Health Research (moodgym.anu.edu.au).

   Got a Droid phone? Nod off faster with the Lightning Bug, a white noise app that plays sounds of rain, waves, or even storms, if that's what makes you wind down. Tense? Try Stress Free Now at 360-5.com.

6. Never feel alone. Find groups of sharing, caring people facing the same health issues you are at sites like PatientsLikeMe.com and online communities at the Web sites of major health organizations like the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, the Arthritis Foundation, and others. Remember, you have a friend: Computer support groups for people who are fighting everything from prostate cancer to fibromyalgia can help boost well-being, ease depression, and offer encouragement -- and share a few much-needed laughs for stress relief. And yes, of course there's an app for that: iJoker (or any one of hundreds of laugh-a-lot downloads).