Better health through better tech

$99, fitbit.com

Inadequate shuteye has been linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity -- and thousands a year in higher medical costs on average. Eight-plus hours may even cut your chance of catching a cold. It's not just how long you sleep, it's how well you sleep. Clip the Fitbit to the included wristband to record your nightly movements. In the a.m., upload the info to fitbit.com. That log of your sleep patterns can help you figure out which pre-bedtime rituals lead to restful z's, and which -- a bonus glass of wine, say, or a vigorous workout -- don't. The Fitbit doubles as a pedometer, tracking steps (try for 10,000 a day) and calories burned.

The app alternatives:

Sleep Cycle, 99¢

Place your iPhone on the corner of your bed, under the fitted sheet. Come morning you'll have an hour-by-hour chart of your tossing and turning.

iTreadmill, 99¢

Pick walk or run, then stash your phone in your pocket, or clip it to an armband or belt, to track every step taken and calorie burned.

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