Health
Your sweat could hold secrets about your health, researchers say — here’s how
New technology could make it significantly easier to monitor patients’ vital health signs.
Engineers at the University of California San Diego have developed an electronic finger wrap that monitors important chemical levels — such as glucose, vitamins and even drugs — using only human sweat, the university stated in a news release.
The wearable innovation is said to be as easy as wearing an adhesive bandage.
The research was published on Sept. 3 in the journal Nature Electronics.
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“This is the first demonstration of a complete zero-electric powered sweat (extraction and sensing) platform that enables non-invasive monitoring of multiple biomarkers to support a wide range of practical scenarios in personalized health care monitoring and wellness management,” Dr. Joseph Wang, PhD, a professor in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering at UC San Diego, told Fox News Digital in an email.
New technology from the University of California San Diego, pictured here, could make it significantly easier to monitor patients’ vital health signs. (Shichao Ding)
The wearable apparatus wraps snugly around the finger and draws its power from the fingertip’s sweat, according to the researchers.
“Fingertips, despite their small size, are among the body’s most prolific sweat producers, each packed with over 1,000 sweat glands,” the news release stated.
The device is constructed from electronic components and printed on a thin, flexible and stretchable polymer material.
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It conforms to the finger and is “durable enough to withstand repeated bending, stretching and movement,” the researchers stated.
Added Wang, “It is based on a remarkable integration of energy harvesting and storage components, with multiple biosensors in a fluidic microchannel, along with the corresponding electronic controller, all at the fingertip.”
Health at your fingertips — literally
In the study trials, the finger wrap showed to be effective, according to the research team.
“The fingertip-wearable microgrid works automatically after it is worn on the finger,” study co-first author Shichao Ding, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in Wang’s research group at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, told Fox News Digital via email.
The wearable apparatus wraps snugly around the finger and draws its power from the fingertip’s sweat, according to the researchers. (iStock)
Participants wore the device on the fingertip while performing daily activities such as working at a desk, walking, eating and sleeping to assess “the real-time performance of the sensors and energy-harvesting system.”
Biomarker levels can be automatically monitored from the sweat for on-demand health tracking, Ding added.
Fingertip glands can produce 100 to 1,000 times more sweat than most other areas of the body, even during rest, according to the researchers.
“Fingertips are among the body’s most prolific sweat producers, each packed with over 1,000 sweat glands.”
“This constant trickle of natural perspiration — without any stimuli or physical activity — offers a reliable energy source, fueling the device even during periods of inactivity or sleep,” they stated.
Ding added, “Autonomous power, sensing and treatment all in one device — that’s the ultimate goal.”
Next steps
Looking ahead, the researchers plan to enhance the device’s performance with additional energy-harvesting techniques.
Those might involve generating mechanical energy from human motion, such as common finger movements like tapping or typing, Ding said.
“In the case of diabetes, such a device could continuously monitor glucose levels, automatically deliver insulin as needed, and then assess the treatment’s effectiveness by further monitoring biomarker levels,” a researcher said. (iStock)
The researchers are working to optimize the circuit design, battery, low-power sensing modules and data transmission to improve the device’s lifespan, stability and functionality, the researcher said, which will help to ensure a sustained balance between energy generation and consumption.
“Researchers are working to develop a closed-loop system that not only monitors biomarkers, but also administers treatments based on the collected data,” Ding told Fox News Digital.
“For instance, in the case of diabetes, such a device could continuously monitor glucose levels, automatically deliver insulin as needed, and then assess the treatment’s effectiveness by further monitoring biomarker levels.”
A ‘pioneering’ innovation
Seokheun “Sean” Choi, PhD, a professor in the electrical and computer engineering department at Binghamton University in New York, was not involved in the device’s development but commented on its potential.
Wearable technology has made significant strides, noted Choi, who specializes in developing biosensing and bioenergy technologies, including self-powered biosensors and other solutions for personalized health monitoring.
The finger-wrap is “revolutionary” in terms of simple power generation and health monitoring, a doctor confirmed. (iStock)
“However, achieving true energy independence — where devices are standalone and always-on — remains a major challenge,” he told Fox News Digital.
Current wearables rely on batteries or other energy storage devices, noted Choi, which pose limitations “due to their bulk and limited energy capacity.”
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The finger-wrap is “revolutionary” in terms of simple power generation and health monitoring, he confirmed.
“To realize the next generation of wearable applications, power autonomy is essential, allowing devices to operate continuously, independently and self-sustainably,” Choi said.
“Autonomous power, sensing and treatment all in one device — that’s the ultimate goal.”
“Professor Wang’s group has pioneered the integration of a sweat-driven electrochemical fuel cell with an energy storage battery, achieving sustainable high performance by using fingertip perspiration to generate meaningful power,” he went on.
“This is revolutionary because sweat was non-invasively and practically harvested from the fingertip in a simple, straightforward manner,” an expert said. (iStock)
“This is revolutionary because sweat was non-invasively and practically harvested from the fingertip in a simple, straightforward manner.”
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In addition to monitoring metabolic functions, Choi said, this solution also has the potential to be used for a wide range of medical applications.
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Fireworks have been a quintessential part of Fourth of July celebrations across the nation for generations.
But as Independence Day festivities light up the night sky, the colorful displays can also pose serious health risks — especially to the lungs.
Nearly 300 million pounds of fireworks are released into the atmosphere each year in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. This creates smoke filled with tiny particles, as well as gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are “very harmful to our lungs.”
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The smoke from fireworks can also release harmful metals, like aluminum, manganese and cadmium, into the air.
Some illegal fireworks may contain lead, which the association describes as “extremely dangerous” due to its potential to cause lasting health damage.
Attendees watch the Independence Day fireworks display along the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Inhaling any of these chemicals can irritate the lungs, making it hard to breathe and causing serious health problems, which is why it is important to avoid firework smoke whenever possible,” the group said in a public advisory.
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Air pollution levels increase by an average of 42% on the Fourth of July, according to a 2015 study.
Smoke from fireworks can worsen symptoms and cause flare-ups in those who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Fine particle pollution has also been linked to more serious health consequences, including heart attacks, stroke, lung cancer and premature death, according to the American Lung Association.
The organization warned that children, older adults and pregnant women, as well as people with lung and heart disease, are especially vulnerable.
Smoke from fireworks can worsen symptoms and cause flare-ups in those who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (iStock)
Dr. Afif El-Hasan, member of the Lung Association’s board of directors, shared some advice for high-risk fireworks spectators in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Instead of using fireworks at home, El-Hasan recommends watching them from a distance.
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People with asthma who use a rescue inhaler should keep it close at hand in case fireworks trigger wheezing or other symptoms, the expert advised. Wearing a well-fitting N95 mask can also help reduce exposure to fine particles from fireworks smoke and debris.
“If you are familiar with the area and the wind patterns, try to be upwind from the fireworks display and avoid areas where smoke may accumulate,” he said.
An expert recommends watching fireworks from a distance to avoid exposure to air pollution. (iStock)
The expert also recommends attending fireworks events with friends or family, so someone is available to help if a medical emergency arises.
“Make sure you have taken all of your preventative medication before a fireworks show,” El-Hasan advised. “If possible, take a car to the fireworks display. Try to park as close as possible to the event in case you have to get to the car quickly.”
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The expert also recommends drinking water immediately after the show to clear the upper airway. Changing and washing clothes upon returning home can also help to prevent smoke particles from accumulating in the home.
If case of shortness of breath or chest pain, it’s important to seek medical care immediately.
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A study of World Trade Center responders found that PTSD is associated with molecular changes linked to accelerated biological aging and a higher risk of chronic disease.
The study, led by Stony Brook University in New York, could offer new clues to the long-term physical health effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
The researchers tested blood samples from 393 WTC responders, collected approximately 18 years after the September 11, 2001, attacks, according to a university press release.
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Out of the sampled responders, 232 were diagnosed with PTSD and 161 were not. Between the two groups, 114 proteins and seven metabolites were significantly different.
Firefighter Gerard McGibbon, of Engine 283 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, prays after the World Trade Center buildings collapsed on September 11, 2001. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
In particular, the researchers detected changes in blood markers linked to brain function, immune activity, energy metabolism, protection against cell damage and how cells communicate and repair tissues.
Also reported were signs of accelerated biological aging in multiple organs — including the heart, kidneys, liver and lungs — among responders with PTSD.
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These discoveries could help explain why people with long-term PTSD are at greater risk for chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, cognitive decline and other age-related illnesses.
“This study found that chronic PTSD is associated with long-lasting biological changes throughout the body, affecting multiple organs and biological systems decades after their traumatic exposure,” lead study author Benjamin Luft, director and principal investigator at the Stony Brook WTC Wellness Program, told Fox News Digital.
“Traumatic experiences can produce lasting biological changes that persist for decades.”
The study reinforces the view that PTSD is a “whole-body illness” rather than simply a mental health disorder, he noted.
“Traumatic experiences can produce lasting biological changes that persist for decades,” Luft said. “These changes appear to accelerate aspects of biological aging and may increase the risk of many chronic diseases.”
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Several proteins that are critical for healthy brain function were also altered in those with PTSD, the researchers found.
“Many of these proteins play critical roles in helping brain cells communicate with one another, repair damage and maintain healthy connections that support memory and thinking,” Luft said.
A New York firefighter is pictured amid the rubble of the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The study – which was funded in part by the CDC, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and the National Institutes of Health – was published in Nature Communications.
Luft said the findings should be viewed with “cautious optimism.”
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“The research provides compelling evidence that PTSD is associated with long-lasting biological changes throughout the body, including signs of accelerated aging, altered metabolism and changes in proteins involved in brain health,” he said.
“These findings strengthen the growing recognition that PTSD is not simply a mental health disorder, but a condition that can have lasting effects on physical health as well.”
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Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, was not involved in the study but called the results “fascinating.”
“This speaks to the complex reality that PTSD is not an isolated psychiatric event due to emotional trauma alone, but that it is also tied in with physical trauma,” he told Fox News Digital. “The stress is both emotional and physical, and leads directly to immune dysregulation and aging processes.”
“These findings strengthen the growing recognition that PTSD is not simply a mental health disorder, but a condition that can have lasting effects on physical health as well,” the researcher said. (iStock)
“The chronic diseases that resulted from high exposure in the aftermath of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks were conjoined in terms of the impact on physical and emotional well-being, longevity and effects on multiple organ systems, as well as core metabolic and immunological processes,” the doctor added.
Study limitations
There were some limitations to the findings, the researchers noted.
“Because all measurements were taken at one point in time, the research can only show an association — not that PTSD directly caused the changes,” Luft noted.
“We are currently doing studies in these patients examining multiple time points to see whether the changes in specific proteins and metabolites precede clinical changes.”
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Also, because the study was done on a unique population – World Trade Center responders who experienced very specific trauma and environmental exposures – the findings may not apply to everyone with PTSD, “such as combat veterans, survivors of abuse or people who experienced other types of trauma.”
Several proteins that are critical for healthy brain function were also altered in those with PTSD, the researchers found. (iStock)
Women are not well-represented in the study, comprising only 10% of responders.
“Blood tests cannot tell us exactly what is happening inside the brain,” Luft said. “Although many of the altered proteins are related to brain function, blood measurements are only an indirect reflection of processes occurring in the brain.”
Looking ahead
Additional studies are needed to determine whether these blood markers can predict disease progression or treatment response.
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“From a public health and policy perspective, the study reinforces the importance of recognizing PTSD as a chronic medical condition with significant long-term health implications,” Luft said.
“Investing in early diagnosis, comprehensive treatment and long-term follow-up for trauma survivors, including our first responders and veterans, may improve quality of life while reducing the burden of chronic disease.”
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