EPFL
Engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a wearable sensing chip that can measure the concentration of cortisol in sweat. Since cortisol is the body s hormone released in response to stress, the chip could lead to wearables like smartwatches that can monitor its user s stress levels throughout the day. [U]ntil now there has been no way to quantify stress levels in an objective manner, EPFL wrote in its announcement. This creation has the potential to change that.
Cortisol helps regulate our metabolism, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It also helps our body respond to stressful situations by redirecting energy to the brain, muscles and heart to prepare them for a fight-or-flight response. The hormone is secreted throughout the day based on a circadian rhythm and not just during especially stressful situations, though. For people who suffer from stress-related issues and diseases, that rhythm is off or the body produces
New, wearable cortisol sensor can help warn us of incoming burnout or depression
Though to be fair, aren’t we all at risk of that currently?
It’s no secret that life can get rough. Those who have to contend with that for too long can start feeling overwhelmed burned out by the stress. Now, a team of researchers proposes a new approach through which we can quantify how much stress someone is under, and for how long. They hope that the new wearable device can help prevent burnout, and let us know when someone is most in need of support or a good old fashioned break from the stress.
TORONTO A small wearable device, the first of its kind developed by engineers in Lausanne, Switzerland, shows promising potential in continuously monitoring and measuring stress hormone levels, according to a new study published in Nature. Developed by Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne’s (EPFL) Nanoelectronic Devices Laboratory (Nanolab) and Xsensio, the device uses a miniaturized sensor to detect how much cortisol, a hormone produced when the body is under stress, is being secreted in our sweat. Researchers hope the technology can be used to help better understand stress-related diseases. The body secretes cortisol throughout the day as part of the way it regulates everything from metabolism, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, topping out early in the morning before tapering off as the day progresses. When the body is facing a stressful situation, cortisol kicks in and takes over to help.