In the first part of this blog series, we evaluated the scientific evidence for breathing exercises as a treatment for Long COVID. If adapted to individual needs, breathwork can enhance lung capacity and respiratory muscle strength, and have positive effects on both physical and mental well-being.
Breathing apps can help incorporate breathing exercises into daily routines, provide insights on various exercise types, and guide patients during practice. We identified and evaluated a selection of breathwork apps for their potential use by individuals affected by Long COVID, based on their features, overall user experience, and user feedback.
In the second blog post we presented three open-source apps that provide support for simple breathing exercises and are free of charge. They are easy to use and customizable but lack background information for guidance.
The third blog post presented two subscription-based apps that include a wide range of exercises and information. Both apps have a limited free version, but the users have to sign up to a paid subscription plan to access the full spectrum of content.
In this blog post we will address two subscription based breathing apps that were specifically designed to help Long COVID patients managing their symptoms.
Lungy for iOS
The development of the Lungy app was initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic and supported by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) in the UK. It uses a patented breathing recognition technology that can help making daily breathing exercises more beneficial. The aim is, to develop the platform into a management tool for people with breathing problems such as asthma, COPD, and Long COVID patients with planned clinical trials.
The app can respond in real-time to the users breathing and is designed to reduce anxiety and stress and to improve sleep quality and physical training. It uses nature-inspired visuals to enhance user engagement. The visuals in all pre-defined exercises might be overwhelming for Long COVID patients who are especially sensitive to visual impulses. However, it is possible to create custom breathing exercises.
Moreover, the app includes a few learning modules on the usage of the app, sleep quality, breathing and anxiety (learning modules are currently English-only). It is possible to connect Lungy with Apple Health to allow tracking of your progress with the app.
The app is available for iOS in different languages (English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Turkish). The free version is very limited, the vast majority of the exercises is included in the premium version for CHF 17/year.
As Lungy was specifically designed to help people with breathing problems, it can offer great support to Long COVID patients who benefit from breathing exercises. It is advisable to first try out the free version in order to find out, if the visuals sound effects are tolerated well.
The premium version offers many additional exercises for an acceptable price as compared to other breathing apps on the market. Future development might bring new functions tailored to the specific needs of Long COVID patients.
Meo Health
The MeoHealth app was specifically developed for Long COVID patients by experts from the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and is based on a study that found a significant improvement in self-reported outcomes and well-being with resonant breathing in people with Long COVID.
It is not possible to use the app without an account. After signing up an initial assessment of the user’s current health status and Long COVID symptoms is performed. The actual content can only be accessed after subscripting to a payment plan, there is no free version.
The physiotherapist Katja Rüegg from the Stadtspital Zürich, Triemli tested the app for Altea.
MeoHealth features a structured 12-week breathing program that progresses as follows:
- Weeks 1 and 2: 2x 5 minutes
- Weeks 3 and 4: 2x 10 minutes
- Weeks 5-8: 2x 15 minutes
- Weeks 9-12: 2x 20 minutes
The program focuses solely on the 4/6 breathing technique, with weekly audio content addressing specific breathing topics such as CO2 tolerance, the introduction to humming, and mindfulness breathing. Breathing intervals cannot be adjusted individually, and the variability of exercises is limited.
MeoHealth is able to import HRV scores from various external wearables, including Apple Health, Fitbit, Garmin, Google Fit, Oura, Samsung Health, and Whoop. This facilitates daily HRV tracking, however the imported data does not directly integrate with the breathing program for biofeedback.
Push reminders can be set for morning and evening breathing sessions, helping users maintain a consistent practice. The app also supports daily symptom tracking with a 1-5 scale, allowing users to monitor a wide range of symptoms across categories such as neurological, emotional, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and general well-being.
The Expert Series within the app includes short audio clips from specialists like David Putrino, Jamie Wood, and Jenna Tosto on topics related to the autonomic nervous system (ANS), breathing, and HRV. Additionally, the app provides reading materials and a one-on-one coaching via WhatsApp, offering round-the-clock support from a human coach for motivation, guidance, and emotional support.
The app design is simple and professional, giving an appealing but not too stimulating impression. However, sound effects during the breathing exercises (e.g., binaural sound) cannot be turned off individually. Moreover, the app includes guided sessions where breathing sequences are accompanied by an audio guide.
MeoHealth is available for iOS and Android a subscription model priced at CHF 80/year for the early bird subscription, increasing to CHF 100 thereafter. The language of the app is English.
In summary, MeoHealth is a scientifically robust app offering extensive breathing and symptom tracking capabilities. Its structured program and expert content could make it a valuable tool for Long COVID patients. As compared to other breathing apps, that offer similar programs it is rather pricy. However, the higher price might be justified by the more scientific approach and the continuous development of the interface and the content.
If you have already had good experiences with breathing training apps, please share them in the Altea forum with other people affected by Long COVID and discuss which app brings the most benefits.
