H2O Overload: Fluid Control for Heart-Kidney Health

H2O Overload: Fluid Control for Heart-Kidney Health app

An app for people who need to limit their fluid intake, such as people with kidney failure, heart failure or low sodium levels.

H2O Overload app	By the National Kidney Foundation (USA)
	Features Fluid intake tracking. Weight recording. Blood pressure recording. Medication list. Doctors' appointment list. Reports for sharing via email.
Country of origin	USA
Clinical review	Read a clinical review below.
Security and privacy	Does the app: Collect medical information? Yes Require a login? No Have password protection? No Have a privacy policy? No Require internet access to use? No Read more about safety and security when using apps. Brochures: Tips to improve your privacy and security [PDF, 65 KB] Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ Staying safe online(external link) Netsafe, NZ
Cost	Free
Advertisement	This app contains no ads.
How to get the app	(external link) (external link)

The app enables you to keep track of your daily fluid intake, weight and blood pressure. It allows you to set limits for these measurements and alerts you if your blood pressure or weight reaches a level that means you need to tell your healthcare provider. The app has provision for you to add doctor appointments to a diary, and link this to your iPhone calendar, create medication lists and store questions for your healthcare provider. It also has information about heart disease, kidney disease, low sodium levels and dietary tips.

For the complete app description, go to the app website(external link), iTunes(external link) (Apple) or, for a detailed review, see reviews below.

PROS	CONS
✔ Easy-to-use tracking features – able to track weight, fluid intake and blood pressure. ✔ Quick data entry with the option to export progress in graphical format. ✔ Displays an alert message when limits have been exceeded. ✔ Weight trends can be viewed as graphs for the past week, month, 3 months and 6 months. ✔ Good educational resource.	✘ The My Medications function that allows you to create a list of medications is free-typed rather than a drop-down list. ✘ No option to view fluid intake over previous days, as the app resets the fluid intake log every 24 hours. ✘ No option to amend an already recorded measurement. ✘ Time/date defaults to when the measurement was entered, cannot retrospectively adjust the date/time for measurements or recordings. Relies on entering fluid intake, weight, and blood pressure at the time of consumption or measurement to maintain an accurate record. ✘ Default settings are American measurement units such as pounds and ounces, although you can convert to kg and mL – each time you open the app it defaults back to pounds and ounces. ✘ Available for Apple devices only; no Android version.

PROS

CONS

✔ Easy-to-use tracking features – able to track weight, fluid intake and blood pressure.

✔ Quick data entry with the option to export progress in graphical format.

✔ Displays an alert message when limits have been exceeded.

✔ Weight trends can be viewed as graphs for the past week, month, 3 months and 6 months.

✔ Good educational resource.

✘ The My Medications function that allows you to create a list of medications is free-typed rather than a drop-down list.

✘ No option to view fluid intake over previous days, as the app resets the fluid intake log every 24 hours.

✘ No option to amend an already recorded measurement.

✘ Time/date defaults to when the measurement was entered, cannot retrospectively adjust the date/time for measurements or recordings. Relies on entering fluid intake, weight, and blood pressure at the time of consumption or measurement to maintain an accurate record.

✘ Default settings are American measurement units such as pounds and ounces, although you can convert to kg and mL – each time you open the app it defaults back to pounds and ounces.

✘ Available for Apple devices only; no Android version.

Clinical review

Reviewer: Johanna Lim, Clinical Pharmacist Facilitator: Cardiology Expert, Health New Zealand Te Whata Ora Te Matau a Maui Hawke’s Bay
Date of review: June 2025
Version: 1.0.2
Platform: Apple
Comments: H2O Overload app is for people who need to limit their fluid intake, such as people with kidney failure, heart failure disease or low sodium levels. The app is suitable for people who need to keep track of their salt and fluid intake by entering their fluid intake, weight, and blood pressure. It is also suitable for healthcare professionals caring for these patients by monitoring their trends in weight and blood pressure over time. There are also extra tools which allow people to enter their upcoming doctor appointments, medicines list and note any questions to ask their healthcare provider at their appointment. This app also contains educational material for users to learn about their diagnosis, nutritional information, and the importance of salt and fluid management.

This is an app developed in the US, and thus the units are in pounds and ounces by default. Although this can be changed to mL or cups, users need to do this each time a measurement is entered. It would be useful to include some links for users to access further information or support groups for more information about their condition or health.
Safety concerns: None.
New Zealand relevance: Yes, the app is relevant to New Zealand users.

Consumer guide: how to choose a health app
Clinicians guide: how to choose a health app
Heart failure apps
NZ Health App Library
Heart failure | Manawa ngoikore
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)

The following references relate to articles about apps for heart failure and kidney disease.

Athilingam P, Osorio RE, Kaplan H, et al. Embedding patient education in mobile platform for patients with heart failure: Theory-based development and beta testing(external link). Comput Inform Nurs. 2016 Feb;34(2):92-8.
Lai J, Porter J. Dietary mobile apps and their effect on nutritional indicators in chronic renal disease: a systematic review(external link). Nephrology (Carlton). 2015 May 10.

Related resources

This app has been reviewed by other independent websites:
An app physicians should consider recommending for CHF and renal patients(external link) iMedicalApps

Disclaimer: The NZ Health App Library is a free consumer service to help you decide whether a health app would be suitable for you. Our review process is independent. We have no relationship with the app developers or companies and no responsibility for the service they provide. This means that if you have an issue with one of the apps we have reviewed, you will need to contact the app developer or company directly.

Factsheets – using health apps safely

How to choose a health app
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

Privacy and security tips for using health apps
Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ

Credits: Healthify editorial team. Healthify is brought to you by Health Navigator Charitable Trust.

H2O Overload: Fluid Control for Heart-Kidney Health