Keeping Well This Winter
Cold weather and winter bugs can affect our health, but there are things we can all do to keep well. Apps can be a good source of information, advice and motivation.
Here is a selection of apps to help you manage your health concerns common for this time for year. If you would like free coaching, support or advice to help you live well in Dorset, please visit LiveWell Dorset.
Download one today.
Keep your lungs healthy
If you have a lung condition, you may find the cold weather leaves you short of breath or coughing more than usual. Keep your lungs as healthy as possible throughout the winter months by trying an app.
Manage Asthma
If cold air affects your asthma, there are apps that can help you look after your asthma in winter and all year round. Used within the NHS, Digital Health Passport is a free app that helps you understand and manage your asthma. It lets you:
- Keep a diary of your asthma to help recognise patterns or spot triggers you didn’t know you had.
- View local air quality, pollution and weather alerts to help you prepare for your day.
- Watch videos to learn how to care for your lung health.
Age: 12+ years old.
Respiratory
Utilities/ Administration
Allergy
Entirely Free
88%
Level 2
88%
Level 2
Stop Smoking
If you smoke, consider giving-up as its one of the best changes you can make to improve your lung health. Made by the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS Quit Smoking is a free app that is a 28-day guide to help you stop smoking. It lets you:
- Complete tasks that can help you beat your cravings and focus on your goals.
- Get daily messages of support and advice.
- Track how many days you have had without a cigarette and how much money you have saved.
Age: 17+ years old.
Healthy Living
Entirely Free
72%
Level 2
72%
Level 2
Drink less
Cutting back on the booze can be a really effective way to improve your health, boost your energy, lose weight and save money. Any reduction in the amount you drink every week will be beneficial – and with the right help, it's easier than you think.
Drink less
Feel healthier, lose weight and save money by picking your days to go drink-free. One simple way to cut down is to have at least a few drink-free days every week, so choose yours and get practical support to stick with it.
With the app you can:
- update and track your drink-free days
- get simple and practical tips to help you control your drinking
- receive reminders when you need it most
Healthy Living
Entirely Free
77%
Level 3
77%
Level 3
Preventing falls and keeping active
The weather can make it feel harder to motivate yourself to get up and move. But activity, at a level that feels right for you, is important to help maintain your strength and mobility. An app can help get you moving and feeling your best through the winter months ahead.
Exercise
Just ten minutes of brisk walking every day can get your heart pumping and can make you feel more energetic, as well as lowering your risk of serious illnesses.
Developed by the NHS, Active 10 Walking Tracker is a free app that helps you to include brisk walking into your daily routine. It lets you:
- Track all your walking and how many minutes were brisk.
- Use a Pace Checker, to see what brisk walking feels like.
- Set goals to keep motivated and help you progress.
Age: 4+ years old.
Healthy Living
Respiratory
Entirely Free
80%
Level 2
79%
Level 2
Beat the winter blues
Some of us can struggle with our mental health during the colder months and in the run up to Christmas and New Year. Why not try a safe and confidential app that can help.
To see the mental health services available in Dorset, please visit the Dorset HealthCare website.
Emotional well-being
Being mindful and practicing meditations can give you a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit your emotional fitness and resilience.
Developed by mental health experts, Smiling Mind is a free app that introduces you to mindfulness and meditation, to achieve your goals, including reducing stress, improving relationships, support good sleep, or concentration. It lets you:
- Understand what mindfulness is and how to practice it.
- Be guided through meditations to help achieve your goals.
- Track your progress.
Age: 4+
Healthy Living
Mental Health
Entirely Free
78%
Level 2
78%
Level 2
Manage anxiety and depression
If you need help with your mental wellbeing, but feel stigma about opening up, or have no one to speak with, the Wysa Mental Health Support app may be able to help you. It lets you anonymously:
- Chat about whatever is on your mind with an emotionally intelligent chatbot, that uses AI to react to the emotions you express.
- Exercises to beat specific challenges.
If you are 18 or over and feeling low, stressed or anxious, our Steps2Wellbeing service is available. You can access the full version of Wysa for free if you refer yourself for this service via the website.
Healthy Living
Mental Health
In App Purchases
90%
Level 4
90%
Level 4
For young adults
Developed for teenage mental health charity stem4, Move Mood is a free app designed to help young people who are experiencing low mood or depression.
Completely anonymous, it lets you:
- Set tasks that you want to achieve each day.
- Be accompanied by an animated companion, to be there and motive you.
- Keep track of your progress and receive rewards.
Age: Designed for young adults.
Mental Health
Entirely Free
70%
Level 3
71%
Level 3
Your child’s health
Colds and winter bugs are inevitable amongst children as they build their immune system. You know your child better than anyone and so you’ll probably be first to notice if they are coming down with something. There are apps to help you understand the signs and symptoms of illness, and when to seek medical attention.
NHS advice
It can be extremely stressful when your child is unwell. We know that there is a huge amount of information available at your fingertips, but finding something that provides clear and accurate information is not always easy! The resources on the Healthier Together have been developed in partnership between parents and NHS healthcare professionals. You'll find clear information on common childhood illnesses, including advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what you should do to keep your child comfortable and how long your child's symptoms are likely to last.
Medicines and Clinical Reference
+6
Entirely Free
79%
Level 2
78%
Level 2
65%
Level 2
Plan ahead
Even if you feel well now, planning ahead will be particularly important this winter, as flu and coronavirus levels are expected to rise. Apps can help you book vaccinations and get trusted advice from your home.
Book your vaccinations
The flu virus strikes in winter and it can be far more serious than you think. Book your vaccination now. Made by the NHS, the NHS app is free and amongst many other things, lets you:
- Book, cancel or change a flu vaccination.
- Book, or manage a COVID-19 vaccination appointment.
- Order a repeat prescription.
Intended age range: 12+ years old.
Medicines and Clinical Reference
+1
Entirely Free
82%
Level 3
82%
Level 3
Discover other reliable apps to improve your health
Our health and care apps library contains tried and tested health apps. Expert reviewed for clinical safety and data security.
Choose a safe health app to help support and manage your health and wellbeing.
Browse Our Health App Library
We’ve reviewed thousands of apps, so you can find the best.
Safe Health Apps
Our health app library only contains compliant health apps, so we can be sure that the ones we recommend meet digital and clinical safety standards. Please be assured we do not expect apps or the library to replace any services you may be using, but rather to complement them.