A recent study highlights the development of a ‘smart shirt’ that could open new doors for understanding heart health. This innovative garment is equipped with an electrocardiogram (ECG), designed to keep an eye on your heart’s electrical activity and pulse. Researchers mentioned that this shirt could help individuals recognise their risk of heart disease more clearly as it monitors heart rate recovery post-exercise, looking at how quickly the heart returns to a normal rhythm.
Manuel Hernandez, senior researcher and professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, stressed the significance of the heart’s response to exercise. He stated, “The heart’s response to exercise provides us with an early indicator of changes in health, particularly cardiovascular function and mortality.” This underscores how crucial understanding your heart can be.
For the study, the team worked with a smart shirt developed by Carré Technologies from Quebec, wired with sensors to continuously capture heart performance data. They recruited 38 participants, aged 20 to 76, including seven individuals with diagnosed high blood pressure. The findings from these treadmill sessions were pivotal in shaping a predictive system aimed at identifying those at an elevated risk of heart complications.
The researchers declared this study a vital first step towards increasing awareness of personal heart health. Hernandez pointed out, “We want to use it to provide us with some greater insight in terms of our underlying cardiovascular function.” Their ultimate goal is to create something with real clinical applications to help patients.
Ideally, these wearable devices would dish out a wealth of information that doctors could analyse. Richard Sowers, a co-researcher and professor at the same university, explained how, “One would like to have a whole bunch of data from wearables,” which would then be relayed to doctors for evaluation. This could be particularly beneficial for folks living in rural areas with limited access to medical facilities.
Plans are already in motion for future studies, which will involve a larger participant pool and prolonged tracking. Other research teams are also diving into the world of ‘smart shirts.’ For instance, Italian researchers recently presented their creation that tracks a patient’s vitals after hospital discharge. Dr. Antonio Pastore from Sapienza University in Rome shared that “over 90% reported it allowed them to feel safe and cared for while recuperating at home.”
As for the study details, they were published recently in the IEEE Journal of Health Informatics, offering a glimpse into the promising future of wearable health technology. Fascinating, right? It seems smart shirts could soon lead the charge in health monitoring, providing valuable insights into our individual health risks.
A new study reveals a smart shirt with ECG technology designed to track heart function, helping individuals understand their risk of heart disease. Developed by Carré Technologies, the shirt records vital stats like heart rate recovery post-exercise. Researchers seek to create a system for identifying those at high risk while promoting the potential of wearable tech in health monitoring.
In conclusion, the emergence of the smart shirt equipped with ECG technology represents a significant step forward in heart health monitoring. By enabling users to track their heart’s recovery after exercise, this device could clearly help individuals assess their risk of heart disease. Researchers aim to make wearable technology a staple in healthcare, especially for hard-to-reach areas. As studies progress, we may see a future where smart shirts become essential tools for personal health management.
Original Source: www.gjsentinel.com
