EPFL
Engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a wearable sensing chip that can measure the concentration of cortisol in sweat. Since cortisol is the body's hormone released in response to stress, the chip could lead to wearables like smartwatches that can monitor its user's stress levels throughout the day. "[U]ntil now there has been no way to quantify stress levels in an objective manner," EPFL wrote in its announcement. " This creation has the potential to change that.
Cortisol helps regulate our metabolism, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It also helps our body respond to stressful situations by redirecting energy to the brain, muscles and heart to prepare them for a fight-or-flight response. The hormone is secreted throughout the day based on a circadian rhythm and not just during especially stressful situations, though. For people who suffer from stress-related issues and diseases, that rhythm is off or the body produces too little or too much of the hormone. Those situations could lead to weight gain and obesity due to stress-related eating, cardiovascular diseases, depression and burnout.