3 Tips to Track Your Health Data

I have always loved numbers and was probably one of the few students who actually enjoyed math class. I took calculus just because and even registered for advanced statistics ... during the summer term. Yeah, give me numbers, and I'm a happy lady.

You're probably wondering where I'm going with this and if I'm going to make you do some math. Rest assured I won't make you recall those formulas or find the square root of anything. However, I do encourage you to get familiar with your numbers.

I constantly tracked information about myself. While it helped me be aware of my daily protein intake or how long I meditated each day, I wasn't really using the data I collected for much. I had previously tried to find patterns in lab results when something increased or decreased but could never pinpoint what triggered the change. I showed up to appointments with my spreadsheet of data trying to explain what I thought was odd but was often met with no interest in hearing about it.

So I decided to approach my data differently. How could I use this valuable information to help my health? I found three ways to make all the tracking worthwhile.

1. Track information that is relevant to you.

Like many people, stepping on a scale isn't high on my priority list. I usually only find out my weight when I go to an appointment. I can tell when I have gained or lost weight by the way my clothes fit, so tracking the number isn't as important to me as having an awareness that my weight is fluctuating.

But tracking my intake of fiber and iron is important because of my diet. Managing my anemia for over a decade has made me very sensitive to when my body needs more foods with high iron content. Tracking my monthly cycle is also something I want to know based on past health challenges.

These may not be relevant for you, so I won't tell you that you must track them. If your goal is to be more active, using a pedometer or activity tracker to count steps or miles might be best. Recording data that is useful for you may help you be more consistent.

Tip: Use a journal, app, or spreadsheet to track your numbers.

2. Listen to your doctor but find someone who supports you.

I fully acknowledge that I did not go to medical school, and I respect the expertise of these professionals. I am not telling you to ignore to your doctor.

The point here is that you will probably know your body better than your doctor though. I've always known that my average temperature is below 98.6 degrees. I typically have a temp below 97.5 degrees and can tell something is going on in my body if it is higher. If it increases, I know to monitor for symptoms.

When I go to the doctor, I communicate all the changes I noticed in my body. I've had a few doctors who completely disregarded the data I tracked. Early on, I was not as vocal about getting them to pay attention. Then I met a nurse practitioner who appreciated the data and actually listened to me. We used the data to monitor the changes and try new approaches to dealing with my symptoms. Having an advocate who supports your health choices is so valuable.

Tip: Share data with your doctor and find someone who hears you.

3. Adjust your lifestyle.

You tracked your data and shared with it with your doctors. Now what? It's time to make changes that will positively benefit you. You might have experienced constant fatigue, but tracking made you aware that you rarely slept more than 5 hours a night. Even adding an extra 30 minutes of sleep could possibly help you feel more rested and be able to focus better.

Set realistic goals to make changes. If you need to increase your intake for a particular nutrient, a significant increase may be overwhelming for your body. For example, incorporating large amounts of fiber too fast could present digestive issues. You may want consider adding more plant-based foods to  gradually increase your fiber.

Tip: Minor changes can have a major impact.

Find a way to have fun with your numbers. Knowing you data will help you know your body better.