The device detects health abnormalities through ... sweat

This device can detect abnormal signs in the amount of sweat secreted by the wearer, thereby promptly warning about their health problems such as dehydration or fatigue.

According to research published in the latest issue of Science Advances, this skin sensor is designed to monitor the speed of sweating, electrolytes and metabolites in sweat.

Skin-attached devices can detect abnormalities through sweating - (Photo: Bizen Maskey, Sunchon National University)

On each of these sensors there is a tiny spiral tube that can absorb sweat from the skin. Through monitoring the speed of sweat moving through this micro tube, the sensors can measure the amount of sweat secreted by the wearer.

In addition, these devices are equipped with chemical sensors, which can detect electrolyte levels such as potassium and sodium, and metabolites such as glucose (sugar).

To learn about health indicators by monitoring the amount of sweat produced, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley installed these new sensors in different areas of the body. of volunteers, including forehead, arm, armpit and back.

They measured sweating rates as well as sodium and potassium levels in sweat when volunteers pedaled and found that the rate of local sweating could reflect the dehydration of the whole body. workout process.

This means that by monitoring the level of sweating, athletes can identify health warning signs when they exercise with too much intensity.

Besides, scientists also use these sensors to compare glucose levels in sweat and blood in healthy patients and diabetics.

However, they found that simply checking the glucose in sweat cannot accurately reflect a person's blood sugar, so more research is needed to determine this relationship.