Wearable devices may help detect early pregnancy changes, researchers say
Researchers suggest that wearable devices like smartwatches can detect early physiological changes associated with pregnancy, such as increased heart and respiratory rates. While these devices cannot diagnose pregnancy, they may serve as useful tools for individuals to monitor their health and identify potential complications earlier.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing role of consumer health technology in proactive medical monitoring and early detection of physiological shifts.
Your smartwatch or Oura Ring may be able to do more than count steps or monitor your sleep. Research suggests that wearable devices could detect early changes linked to pregnancy, sometimes before someone takes a pregnancy test.Cardiologists say pregnancy causes major changes throughout the cardiovascular system, including an increase in resting heart rate that wearable devices can detect. A study published through the National Library of Medicine also found a nightly peak in respiratory rate during pregnancy consistent with wearable device tracking.Dr.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in