When exposed to anxiety or stress, the human body releases a hormone known as cortisol. Previously, laboratory tests were the only way to measure cortisol levels in the body, which is an indicator for diagnosing certain physical and mental disorders such as depression and stress resulting from traumatic experiences.
However, a team from the University of California in the United States has successfully developed a smart watch that measures cortisol levels in sweat. They mentioned in a study published in the scientific journal "Science Advances" that this technology is accurate, does not require blood samples, and provides an easy way to determine stress levels.
The technology website "Tech Explore" cited researcher Sam Emaminigad, an expert in electrical engineering and computing at the University of California, stating, "Due to the small size of cortisol molecules, its concentration level in sweat closely resembles its level in the human body."
The new smart watch is equipped with thin chips that contain adhesive material to collect droplets of sweat from the skin's surface, and sensors to detect cortisol and measure its concentration in sweat.
The research team is working on developing wearable devices equipped with biosensors to monitor levels of specific substances or hormones in the body to diagnose certain diseases or health conditions.
