You can find apps for just about anything, including relationship advice and couples support, mindfulness exercises, stroke recovery help, and more.
Technology has made many areas of our lives easier — from getting directions to ordering groceries online. Increasingly, technology is helping to support our health and wellness too. From tracking our daily steps to monitoring our blood sugar numbers, there are countless apps and online tools that we can use to help us stay well.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) App Store offers a wide range of free apps designed to meet the health and wellness needs of Veterans, including help for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep issues, anger management, and more.
Learn more about the benefits of using health-related apps and check out some of the ones designed to help Veterans thrive.
The Benefits of Health Apps
While wellness apps and online tools should not be used to replace in-person medical treatment and healthcare, they can be used as an additional way to care for and support yourself. Here are some reasons you may want to give them a try:
- Convenience – Get
support wherever you are whenever you need it. If you download an app to your phone or internet-connected device, you can access wellness tips and resources without traveling or scheduling an appointment. You can also schedule in-person appointments and access telehealth services through an app. - Motivation – Many apps help you track your progress toward reaching your health goals and offer encouragement and support along the way.
- Control – For some Veterans, using self-help tools and resources can provide an empowering sense of control and ownership over their healthcare.
- Privacy – While accessing treatment and care is important for overall wellness, online apps and tools offer a level of privacy that may be comforting for some Veterans. You can get help for specific mental or physical symptoms without going anywhere in public.
Health Apps Designed for Veterans
VA’s App Store has several different apps for Veterans in a wide range of categories. You can find apps for just about anything, including relationship advice and couples support, mindfulness exercises, stroke recovery help, and more.
Here are a few of the apps Veterans can access from a smartphone or an internet-connected device:
Virtual Connection Apps – Veterans can use apps to connect with their VA providers, talk to a pharmacist, track their appointments, refill prescriptions, and more.
- VA Health Chat – Quickly connect with VA staff members without traveling to a facility. Chat with staff when you have a question about a non-life-threatening health issue, want to schedule an appointment, or refill a prescription.
- VA: Health and Benefits – Refill and track your prescriptions, send and receive secure messages from your VA healthcare team, review your appointments and records, and more.
- VA Video Connect – This is VA’s secure videoconferencing app designed to help you meet with VA providers quickly and easily through live video on any computer or mobile device with an internet connection.
Physical Wellness Apps – VA offers several apps to help Veterans improve their physical well-being.
- MOVE! Coach – MOVE! Coach
is designed for Veterans who are ready to manage their weight and feel their best. The app takes you through a 16-week program that teaches you about healthy eating and physical activity. Use its daily logs and charts, share your progress with others, and more. - Pain Coach – This is an interactive app for people who experience chronic pain or any pain that disrupts their life. It includes daily check-ins, activities to help you manage pain, a journal, and more.
- Insomnia Coach – This app is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia. It features guided, weekly training plans to help you track and improve sleep. It also features tips for sleeping and personal feedback about your sleep, a sleep diary, and other tools to help you get your sleep on track. It is a self-care tool and does not replace treatment with a healthcare professional.
Mental Wellness Apps – Veterans can find apps to support their mental health and behavioral therapy needs – from helping to manage trauma symptoms to coping with anger.
- PTSD Coach – This app was designed for Veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. You can learn how to manage your symptoms, access resources for additional support, use guided relaxation exercises, find soothing sounds and images, and more. This app is not meant to replace treatment with a healthcare professional.
- AIMS for Anger Management – The AIMS app is based on the Anger and Irritability Management Skills online self-help course and provides users with tools to track and help manage anger, education about anger, and opportunities for finding support. Users can also create custom tools based on their preferences and can integrate their own contacts, photos, and music. AIMS does not replace treatment with a healthcare professional.
- Mindfulness Coach – This app was developed to help Veterans practice mindfulness. The app provides a gradual, self-guided training program designed to help you understand and adopt a simple mindfulness practice. Receive mindfulness exercises, log and track your progress, get reminders, and more.
Health Monitoring and Self-care Apps – Use the VA app store to find apps that allow you to monitor health conditions and take control of your health needs.
- mySugr – Diabetes Tracker Log – If you’ve been provided an Accu-Chek glucometer, you and your provider can use the app to monitor your blood glucose levels, evaluate treatment regimens, and more.
- Stay Quit Coach – This app is designed to help Veterans quit or reduce use of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and other nicotine products. You can set goals, track progress, receive motivational messages, and more.
- Annie for Veterans – Annie is a VA text messaging service that sends various automated self-care reminders, including reminders for taking medications, reducing stress, preparing for your upcoming healthcare appointments, and more.
You can explore the rest of the VA App Store to find the apps that are right for you and add to and improve your existing healthcare treatment.
Your health and wellness matters. These apps can help you take an active role in your healthcare. Try one today.