Shared from brainandlife.org.
Stacee Hawkins credits a health-changing aha moment to a smartphone app. Linked to her smartwatch, StrivePD, from Rune Labs, automatically detects and records tremors and muscle spasms called dyskinesia in addition to tracking her diet, physical activity, sleep, medications, stress, and more.
“I see connections more quickly now,” says Hawkins, 56, a video producer from Houston, TX, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease four years ago. “I discovered that exercising helps my Parkinson’s medication kick in faster in the morning. Being active also reduces the severity of my tremors by about two-thirds—my muscles don’t tighten up and shake as much. So I make sure I exercise, even if it’s just a short walk in the morning.”
Hawkins isn’t alone. For people with a wide range of neurologic conditions—including migraines, chronic pain, epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and dementia—smartphone apps and features can make it easier to take care of your health (or that of a loved one) and get the most from medications, lifestyle choices, and health care visits, according to Benjamin Kummer, MD.