New Smartphones Apps Could Battle Heart Disease

Heart disease remains a major problem both here in the U.S. and abroad. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 600,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, attesting to its widespread reach. While dieting and exercise remain the two most effective ways to combat heart disease, a recent study has pointed towards another preventative measure: mobile apps.

For the study, which is being called "TEXT ME" (an acronym for Tobacco, Diet and Exercise Messages), researchers recruited hundreds of patients who were suffering from coronary heart disease and enrolled them in a special program that sends four text messages per week. These text messages consist of reminders to help patients make better choices regarding their health. This may include reminders to stop smoking, get up and exercise, eat less salt, cut back on sweets, eat more vegetables, etc. Participants received these health-oriented text massages four times a week for a total of six months, at which points researchers analyzed the results.

So, what did researchers discover with this study? They found participants who received the text messages had lower levels of bad cholesterol (LDL), as well as lower blood pressure and lower body mass indexes than participants in the control group, whom did not receive text messages. Researchers were quick to point out that participants who receives text messages pertaining to their heart health also had a greater chance of stop smoking, and they experienced more physical activity.

"Among patients with coronary heart disease, the use of a lifestyle-focused text messaging service compared with usual care resulted in a modest improvement in LDL-C level and greater improvement in other cardiovascular disease risk factors," wrote researchers in the study's conclusion. "The duration of these effects and hence whether they result in improved clinical outcomes remain to be determined."

Assuming this information is correct, smartphones could be an invaluable tool in curbing the epidemic of heart disease. If users set up reminders on their mobile devices to eat healthy and exercise, perhaps we would see lower rates of coronary heart disease. Of course, a reminder is only effective if the individual actually takes action on it. Nonetheless, this study shows promise for the use of mobile devices and their respective apps to help battle heart disease.

This study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).