BodySitRep

Logs Guide

Every time you save a tracker entry, it becomes a log. Your logs are your health history. This guide explains how to read them, what the charts mean, and how to use the data.

What logs are

A log is a saved entry from any tracker. When you open Blood Pressure and enter 130/85, then tap Save, that becomes a log entry with the date, time, your reading, any symptoms you selected, and any notes you wrote. Every log entry is encrypted and stored.

Logs are listed newest first. Your most recent entry is always at the top. Scroll down to see older entries.

What each row shows

Each log entry in the list shows:

  • Summary line. The most important value from that entry. For Blood Pressure, it is the reading (130/85 mmHg). For Headache, it is the pain level (Pain: 7/10). For Sleep, it is the duration (7h 23m).
  • Date and time. When you logged it.
  • Secondary details. Supporting info like symptoms selected, medication taken, or meal type.
  • Notes. Whatever you wrote in the free-text notes field.

Tap an entry to see its full details. Some trackers show an expandable card with all fields visible.

How to read charts

Most trackers display a chart near the top of the log page. Understanding what the chart shows makes your data much more useful.

Scatter plots (Blood Pressure, Glucose, Weight, Temperature)

Each dot is one reading. The horizontal axis is time (dates). The vertical axis is the value (mmHg, mg/dL, pounds, degrees). Horizontal reference lines show important thresholds:

  • Blood Pressure: lines at 120/80 (normal) and 140/90 (high)
  • Glucose: line at 100 mg/dL (normal fasting)
  • Temperature: line at 100.4°F (fever)

Look at the trend. Are your dots moving up over time? Down? Staying clustered in the same range? That trend is what matters more than any single reading.

Bar charts (Sleep, Water, Caffeine)

Each bar represents one day. The height is the total for that day (hours slept, ounces of water, mg of caffeine). This makes it easy to compare days at a glance. Shorter sleep bars stand out immediately. Days with no bar mean you did not log.

How to interpret trends

The real power of logging is not any single entry. It is seeing what happens over time. Here is how to think about your data:

  • Look at weeks, not days. One bad blood pressure reading does not mean something is wrong. A week of consistently high readings does.
  • Compare trackers. Open Notebook's By Day view to see multiple trackers on the same day. Did your pain spike on a day you slept poorly? Did your mood drop on a day with high caffeine?
  • Watch for patterns after changes. If you started a new medication two weeks ago, look at your chart before and after. Is there a visible shift?
  • Note the outliers. A single extreme reading is worth investigating. What was different that day? Check your notes.

Exporting your logs

Go to Reports & Exports from your Home screen. You have several options:

  • PDF reports. Generate formatted reports with cover pages, structured tables, and signature lines. Choose Brief mode for compact VA-style layouts or Extended mode for complete records. Export for yourself, pets, or caregiver dependents.
  • CSV per tracker. Downloads a spreadsheet of all entries for one tracker. Opens in Excel, Google Sheets, or any spreadsheet app. Great for sharing with a provider.
  • Full JSON backup. Downloads all your data across all trackers in one file. Use this for your own records or to restore data later.

Export before every provider appointment. A spreadsheet of 30 days of blood pressure readings, or 2 weeks of headache logs with dates and severity, is far more useful than saying "I think it has been worse lately."

Tips

  • Review your logs once a week. Even a quick 2-minute scroll reveals patterns you would not notice otherwise.
  • If a chart looks flat and boring, that is actually good. It means your values are stable.
  • If a chart shows a clear trend (up or down), bring it to your provider. They can act on visible trends more easily than vague descriptions.
  • Use Notebook's By Tracker view to read all your notes for one condition in sequence. This is often more revealing than looking at numbers alone.
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