The 9 Best Health Apps of 2022
So many of the questions we used to have to take with us when we went to our annual physical we can now answer in the comfort of our homes — or wherever we are — thanks to the plethora of apps at our fingertips
No matter the category you’re seeking, there’s an app for you. Here are some of the best health apps of 2022.
1. Best Overall: HealthTap
If you’re an avid Googler of health symptoms and concerns, you’ll have a field day with this app that offers you answers to millions and millions of questions from real doctors spanning hundreds of thousands of topics (yes, really).
if you have a question that you can’t seem to find an existing answer to on the app, you can post it and a doctor will respond within 24 hours. Need an answer ASAP? You can choose to pay and have an expedited response.
You can also schedule live consultations with doctors, dentists, and psychologists; view your lab results, and manage your prescriptions.
Download HealthTap for Android
2. Best Mental Health App: Talkspace
For many people, one of the biggest hurdles to seeking mental health help is convenience. With a busy schedule, it can be overwhelming to try to fit in time with a mental health professional. Talkspace seeks to make this a non-issue by providing easy access to licensed therapists who are ideal for you and your concerns.
It all starts with a questionnaire that covers your needs, preferences, goals, etc. From there, the app matches you with several therapists and allows you to choose the best fit (or request more options be sent your way).
During each session, you meet in a virtual therapy room that can be accessed straight from your mobile device or your computer’s web browser. You can also message your therapist up to five times per week outside of sessions.
Download Talkspace for Android
3. Best for Health & Weight: Noom
Whether you’re looking to shed some pounds or simply eat a more nutritious diet, Noom has you covered. The first thing you’ll do is fill out a questionnaire that covers the basics: your weight, health goals, lifestyle habits, and coaching preferences. Then you’ll be matched with a health coach who will work with you to help you reach your goals.
Each day, you’ll get a push notification requiring you to do some sort of task, whether it be tracking your meals or doing some form of exercise. After you’ve gotten in the groove, the app then connects you with like-minded users who you can communicate with for added accountability.
4. Best for Calorie Counter & Diet Tracker: Fooducate
There’s a lot most of us don’t know about the food we eat daily. Fooducate seeks to educate users on food and nutrition to help them work toward eating a healthy and well-balanced diet.
It’s so easy to use — you just scan whatever food it is you’re looking to learn more about and the app will share a food score that determines its health and nutrition breakdown along with the pros and cons of that particular food.
Download Fooducate for Android
5. Hello Heart
Most people wouldn’t consider checking their blood pressure to be a fun and leisurely activity. but this Apple Watch app makes it so because it records your vital signs straight from your wrist while you’re casually living your life.
It also breaks down what your numbers might mean and how you’re doing so you know what information to give your primary care provider if and when necessary.
In addition to allowing you to track your blood pressure, it keeps tabs on your blood sugar and activity levels.
Download Hello Heart for Android
6. Best Meditation App: Headspace
Meditation-based health apps have seen a huge surge since the onset of the pandemic — and understandably so, because anxiety and depression rates have also skyrocketed since 2020, according to an April 2021 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Meditation is one of the most tried-and-true ways to reduce the mental burdens associated with anxiety, stress, and all sorts of mental health issues, notes Dr. Pedre.
Luckily, a plethora of meditation apps are helping people cope from the comfort of their homes, and Headspace is one of the most popular, providing guided meditations that are specific to your needs, whether you’re looking to amp up your relaxation or soothe yourself to sleep (or both).
Download Headspace for Android
7. Best Exercise App: Aaptiv
This audio-based fitness app brings some serious mojo to your fitness goals thanks to its infusion of heart-pumping music to go along perfectly with whatever workout you’re looking to do in addition to audio instructions from a certified personal trainer.
From stretching and treadmill work to outdoor running and indoor cycling, you’ll find it all on this app, which you can download to your digital devices and use just about anywhere.
The app tracks your exercise progress, and another perk users love is that it suggests workouts for you based on your fitness level and preferences.
8. Best Nutrition App: MyPlate
If you’re looking to track the food you eat and analyze which nutrients you might be falling short on, this app can help you pull it all off. It’s kind of like a food diary, thanks to its easy-to-use tracking database that pulls up just about any food or beverage you might be eating and incorporates all of its nutrition off the bat.
Users can also set personal goals, and the app will make suggestions — even sending reminders throughout the day to ensure you’re making healthy choices, including drinking enough water.
There’s also a community section to help inspire you and introduce you to like-minded users.
9. Best Sleep App: Sleep Cycle
If you’re someone who wakes up feeling less than fully rested even after you’ve slept a healthy amount of hours at night, a sleep app may be beneficial for you.
Sleep Cycle is one of the most popular. mainly because of its user-friendly interface and advanced insight into sleep trends both in the short and long term. In addition to measuring your quality of sleep, sleep patterns, and any disruptions that may have occurred throughout the night, the app also measures your heart rate, which helps clue you into what might be holding you back from optimal daytime energy.
Best part? All of the trackings is done without any wearable device — just make sure your phone is placed next to your bedside and you’re good to go.
Download Sleep Cycle for Android
