Bathroom scales can warn about life threatening conditions

London, May 17

Scientists have designed a multi-functional body weight scale which may help measure more than 20 health parameters and warn us about potentially dangerous life conditions such as arteriosclerosis.

Researchers from Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania developed a prototype of multi functional body composition scales, and are now improving the model by adding new functions and parameters.

Body composition scales supplemented by handlebar and matching technologies can measure a person’s pulse through sensors on the handlebar and footpad electrodes, researchers said.

The team has developed a method, which can help identify the problems in the person’s arterial condition by the pulse arrival time from heart to the feet.

“We are measuring the speed of blood pulse wave: the faster the speed, the stiffer the arteries, which, in turn can already warn about the development of arteriosclerosis, and the latter can be the cause of increased blood pressure and other conditions,” said Birute Paliakaite from KTU.

“When a person has final stage of renal insufficiency syndrome, he or she has to undergo dialysis several times a week.

“As kidneys cannot manage keeping the balance of microelements in the organism, the risk of potentially life threatening conditions, such as increased potassium concentration in blood, ie hyperkalemia, arises,” said Paliakaite.

Researchers are aiming to integrate the function of recognising the development of hyperkalemia into the scales.

When indicating this potentially life-threatening condition, the scales would notify the doctor, who might decide to move the planned dialysis into earlier date, researchers said.

“We are continuously increasing the number of parameters, which can be measured using our scales. For example, alongside arterial stiffness, the scales can also detect cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat),” said Paliakaite.

“I believe, that in the future, the multifunctional body composition scales will measure more than 20 various health parameters,” Marozas said. — PTI