Can Your Clothing Help Protect Your Heart?

The researchers have developed clothing that can actually help to protect heart patients to monitor any heart rhythm abnormalities and even call for an ambulance if necessary. Sensors that measure signals such as heart rate information, can be placed in patients bras or underwear.

The researchers have developed clothing that can actually help to protect heart patients to monitor any heart rhythm abnormalities and even call for an ambulance if necessary. Sensors that measure signals such as heart rate information, can be placed in patients bras or underwear. “These sensors pick up electric signals in the body. They don’t have to touch the skin and can be sown into clothes, which can be put in the laundry,” said a spokesman for Philips Research, who developed the new product. Doctors, telecoms operators and insurance companies will all have to work together and come to a consensus on how to use the product, so it may be a couple more years before it is made available on the market. Not only can the sensors alert authorities in the case of a medical emergency, but it can also store readings for several months. This allows the device to help doctors spot trends, so that they are better able to diagnose and treat patents.(Source: M.S.W., ZoeMed, Inc.: Cardio Life Centre: October 2003)