Sponsored by Merck, the unique online and mobile tool empowers patients to be active participants in their HIV treatment decisions

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- TheBody (www.thebody.com), the #1 HIV/AIDS resource online, today launched My Health Tracker, an online and mobile tool offering HIV/AIDS-infected patients the ability to save, track and analyze their medical data. The tool, created with sponsorship from Merck, is available at www.thebody.com/tracker and is able to be updated through text messaging.

"We are proud to officially launch My Health Tracker to help those coping with HIV/AIDS better manage this life-changing condition," said Christopher M. Schroeder, CEO of HealthCentral, TheBody.com's parent company. "Tracking lab results and medication is a critical component to good HIV management. This tool empowers patients to take control of their health, creating the ideal patient-doctor relationship: a partnership, not one-way communication."

With already more than 2,000 registrants, the feature-packed My Health Tracker is a user-friendly tool for HIV-infected patients. Using the tool, people with HIV can actively track various aspects of their health securely and anonymously. They can also keep a log of their medication history, observe how their lab results change over time and keep a detailed journal. A unique feature is the ability to use a cell phone to update lab results critical to HIV-infected patients - CD4 counts and viral loads - or to add a new journal entry via text message.

"TheBody.com's health tracker is a giant step toward inspiring patients to actively participate in their own health care," said Jeff Berry, editor of the HIV-focused magazine Positively Aware. "The ease of updating lab results directly from your doctor's office and viewing the trends in your medical history are immensely helpful to those living with HIV." Berry has been living with HIV since 1989.

"I've always had to rely on my doctor to remind me of my progress with T-cells, or have kept slips of old test results strewn around everywhere. I love that the tracker keeps my T-cell, viral load, and even cholesterol levels organized so I can track changes over time," said Mark S. King, HIV/AIDS activist, and a blogger at TheBody.com. "Lab results trended over time is important but hard to keep track of. With this new tool, I have the information in my hands instead of having it in a file in my doctor's office."

About TheBody.com and HealthCentral:

TheBody.com is the #1 HIV/AIDS resource online, offering top clinical and management information and support to more than 4 million users each month. TheBody's parent company, HealthCentral (HealthCentral.com), empowers people to improve and take control of their health and well-being through more than 35 condition- and wellness-specific interactive health sites. HealthCentral is venture backed by IAC/InteractiveCorp, Polaris Ventures, Sequoia Capital, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company.

SOURCE HealthCentral

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.thebody.com/
http://www.healthcentral.com/