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      The reminders, inspirational messages, social support, and data capabilities provided by digital devices might be helpful if you are trying to establish or maintain more healthful habits.

      You may be able to use your smart phone as a heart monitor, fitness tracker, or medical alert "bracelet."

     Women who would like to more accurately anticipate periods or to conceive may appreciate the convenient capabilities of a menstruation-tracking app.

     Free smoking cessation apps for adults and for teens are co-sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Fifteen others are briefly described here.
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     A mobile-friendly format for MedlinePlus.gov, the premier health information website, is available in English or Spanish.

     If you enjoy health magazines, we also recommend the National Library of Medicine's quarterly magazine, NIH MedlinePlus. Receive it on your smart phone by texting "MPMAG subscribe" to 468311. (Email and print subscriptions are also free.)

     People vary in their responses to fitness trackers: some enjoy and benefit from them, while others find the devices intrusive, counterproductive, or not worth the bother. Parents will want to consider issues related to children and teens using trackers. 

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     Most people know that chocolate is poisonous to dogs, but a far more lethal substance may be lurking in your home. Xylitol, a natural sweetener, is used in many sugar-free and low-sugar products, from gum, mints, and cough drops to muffins and cookies - even peanut butter. Unlike chocolate, quite small quantities can be deadly. If your dog may have consumed xylitol, contact a veterinarian immediately. Prompt treatment is critical. 

     Learn what the two numbers in a blood pressure reading mean, how much lifestyle changes can help lower high pressure, and the pros and cons of various medications. This description of research efforts to define the upper healthy blood pressure limit for older adults may also be of interest.

     For years, we were advised to care for sprains with RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. The guidelines have changed: gentle exercise is in and ice is mostly out.

-  Keep your toenails from becoming ugly as you age.

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-  Are you throwing away perfectly good food? Lots of folks misunderstand the meaning of "Best by" and "Sell by" dates.

-  How can leg cramps during exercise be prevented, or best alleviated if they do occur?
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-  Are canned and fresh fish equally nutritious?
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-  For your and others' safety, put away your phone when walking.
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-  Seniors who received the shingles vaccine over eight years ago may want to request a booster shot.

     Taking multiple medications to treat several different chronic health conditions can be challenging ("When should I take each pill?") and worrisome ("Is it safe for me to take so many drugs? How will I afford them?"). If you have a Medicare Part D drug plan, your insurance will pay for you to meet one-on-one with a pharmacist or other expert to check that all your prescriptions, and the way you take them, are safe, helpful, and cost-effective.

     Relatively little research is done on the safety and efficacy of medications in kids. This is especially true for very young children and for drugs that affect the brain. Consequently it is difficult for parents and doctors to make well-informed decisions about treating toddlers and preschoolers with emotional and behavioral problems or neurological conditions.
     For parents wondering about the wisdom of medicating a young child with a mental condition, food for thought - but no easy answers - are provided in this New York Times article and letter-to-the-editor responses authored by health care professionals.