A free, easy-to-use mobile application that helps people prevent heart disease is now available through iTunes. The app, created by the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation as part of a nationwide competition, was announced today by Farzad Mostashari, M.D., the national coordinator for health information technology, and Janet Wright, M.D., the executive director of the Million Hearts initiative.

“The Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation has created an app to give people easy access to some of the most advanced health care analytics available to learn the factors that put them at risk for heart attacks and how to prevent them,” Dr. Mostashari said. “People can now get information about their risk and share what they know with their doctor to better manage their heart health.”

Heart Health Mobile offers both a traditional version of the app and one that incorporates a game. Users who play the game earn points for completed tasks and awards for tracking their heart health and reaching their targets.

“The goal was to develop an app that helps Americans take simple steps to prevent heart disease, which is responsible for one in every three deaths in the U.S. Heart Health Mobile is simple and fun to use, and we hope will help people lead healthier lives,” said Simon M. Lin, M.D., app project leader and director of the Biomedical Informatics Research Center at Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation. “As health care moves rapidly toward preventing disease, technology such as Heart Health Mobile can help people take charge of their health.”

For more information go to itunes or http://www.hearthealthmobile.com/