Making important lifestyle changes could add healthy years to your life, and the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s newest mobile app is helping Canadians take the right steps.

Called the 30 Days Mobile App and launched in partnership with Desjardins Financial Security, this tool gives users a customized risk profile showing the long-term impact of their daily health choices – then guides them to break bad habits and adopt a healthier lifestyle in 30 days or less. Every day the app delivers a focused, easy-to-do challenge that channels the user’s motivators.

 

Andrea Balfour is one user who says it’s already helping her adopt healthier habits after only a couple of weeks.

 

“I can’t believe how quickly these changes are becoming part of my daily routine,” says the 47-year old who recently committed to losing 125 lbs in order to improve her heart health. “At first I found the daily challenges difficult because they pushed me beyond my comfort zone, but they’re slowly adding up and it’s getting easier every day.”

 

The app helps users inventory their health and risk factors by completing a mini-assessment. They then prioritize the risk factors that are most important to them and highlight what motivates them most.

 

When she first started using it, Balfour weighed 265 lbs and was smoking a pack of cigarettes every day.

 

“I knew I had to make some drastic changes to reduce my risk of heart disease and stroke. This app has helped me figure out what steps I need to take, and now it’s showing me how to take them.”

The free app is currently available in English or French for iOS devices only (iPhone, iPad and iTouch) and can be downloaded at Apple App Stores or at heartandstroke.ca/YourRisk.

Courtesy of Newscanada