Tracking Symptoms

Quickly and easily monitor symptoms with Backpack

Allison Goldman avatar
Written by Allison Goldman
Updated over a week ago

You can use Backpack to track select symptoms over time. Track to find patterns and trends, improve communication with your doctor, or decide whether a treatment is working effectively.

  • Record how often symptoms occur, how severe they are, how long they last, and more

  • Create shortcuts to make your tracked items more accessible

  • Set reminders to add entries regularly

  • View and share your list of entries on Share Cards

What symptoms can I track?

Backpack has a growing list of trackable symptoms like headaches, nosebleeds, and pain (see full list below). You can track any trackable symptom directly, and you can track symptoms associated with certain conditions, too. For example, you can track pain if you add Pain to your Backpack, but you can also track pain if you add Fibromyalgia to your Backpack.

Start tracking a symptom

Trackable symptoms, and conditions with associated trackable symptoms, will have a tracking icon in search results and a tracking section on their main view.

  • Choose a new trackable condition/symptom from search results or open a saved one from your list of Health Info.

  • Select the tracking button to get started.

  • Select the tracking button again to create your first entry.

Note: If more than one symptom can be tracked, you’ll first be asked to choose which symptom(s) you want to track. You can track as many as you want and you can edit your selections anytime.

Record symptom details

Most symptoms have unique elements of their own that you can track – for example, you can specify things like severity for pain, and intensity for nosebleeds. In addition, all tracked entries have:

  • Date: defaults to current date, but can be edited (select to make changes).

  • Time: defaults to current local time, but can be edited (select to make changes).

  • Comments: a place to write additional notes about what you experienced or are experiencing (this is optional).

  • Files: attach a photo, video, or document to an entry for reference.

After you’ve added the details you want to include, select Done on the top right to save. You can add new entries or view all saved entries anytime from the main view for the symptom or associated condition. You can also create shortcuts and reminders to make tracking even easier (more about that below!).

Set up tracking shortcuts

You can make tracking a symptom easier by adding a shortcut for it to the top of your Health Info list. If you’re tracking a symptom related to a condition, adding a shortcut also means you can access the symptom independently.

To add a tracking shortcut:

  • Open the symptom you’re tracking (or condition you’re tracking a symptom for) from your list of Health Info.

  • Select to View all entries for your tracked symptom.

  • Scroll to the bottom and switch the Health Info shortcut toggle to on.

Set reminder notifications

You can also set reminders to track a symptom on your iOS or Android device. Tracking reminders are sent via push notification, and are unique to the device the Backpack Health app is installed on.

To create a reminder:

  • Open the symptom you’re tracking (or condition you’re tracking a symptom for) from your list of Health Info.

  • Select to View all entries for your tracked symptom.

  • Scroll to the bottom and select Reminder notifications.

Reminders can be sent daily or set for specific days of the week. You choose what time, how often, and the date you want them to start (and optionally, the date you want them to end).

You can turn a saved reminder off by opening it on your list of tracked entries and selecting the delete button.

Share tracked symptoms on Share Cards

Like all health information saved in Backpack, you can add tracked symptoms to Share Cards to share via PDF or URL. Choose whether to share just the most recent entry, or all tracked entries.

Deleting a tracked entry or list of entries

You can delete a specific entry by opening it from your list and selecting the delete button at the very bottom.

You can delete all entries for a tracked symptom by going to the list and selecting the delete button at the very bottom of your list. Doing this will also delete your tracking reminders and Health Info shortcut for the symptom if you have them.

Trackable symptoms

Track the following symptoms in Backpack. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Let us know at help@backpackhealth.com.

  • Acid Reflux

  • Asthma attacks

  • Blurry vision

  • Constipation

  • Diarrhea

  • Fatigue

  • Headaches

  • Hives

  • Nausea

  • Nosebleeds

  • Pain

  • Pain specific to an area (such as lower back pain, abdominal pain, chest pain)

  • Rashes

  • Seizures

  • Stiff joints

  • Trembles

  • Tremors

  • Vomiting

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