Design of a wearable device to track heart problems

Abstract

This work reports on Design of a Wearable Device to Track Heart Problems. Heart-related illness, including cardiovascular disorders, remain a leading cause of death globally. The early identification and continuous monitoring of cardiac issues are critical to saving lives. However, several challenges make self-monitoring of heart health particularly difficult in Rwanda. Restricted access to healthcare services means that many individuals do not have the necessary medical support for regular heart check-ups. Budgetary constraints further exacerbate this issue, as advanced medical devices and regular consultations can be prohibitively expensive for many. Additionally, there is a general lack of understanding and awareness about heart health and the available monitoring technologies. To address these severe obstacles, a wearable device that tracks heart problems through heart rate monitoring can offer significant benefits. These include continuous monitoring of heart rhythm to detect arrhythmias, which can help ensure more efficient blood flow. By providing early warnings of potential issues, the device can alert users to seek medical advice or treatment promptly, supporting better oxygen delivery to tissues and reducing stress on the heart. The device is easy to use, allowing it to fit smoothly into daily life without causing any interruptions. This wearable device has temperature and heartbeat sensors that are capable of detecting and analyzing minute fluctuations in heart rate. Temperature sensor is essential for monitoring heart problems because it provide significant data on body temperature. High temperature can raise heart rate and metabolic requirement, posing a risk to those with cardiac problems. In contrast, a reduction in temperature can slow the heart rate and impact circulation. Heartbeat sensor provides a real-time heart rate and rhythm data. These sensors provide valuable insights into a person's cardiac autonomic function, with the data processed by a program stored in a microcontroller and ability to send the data to the cloud as well as a remedy generated by the system to help patient or health workers of the patient to know what they can do for first aid. The wearable device monitors heart rate and alerts patients directly with a red LED indicator if abnormalities are detected. Doctors receive notifications via GSM for calls and messages, and they can view the patient's heart health data on a dedicated website. This website is accessible to both doctors and caregivers, who can use the data to provide advice and guidance to the patient. The development process lasted six months and included repeated cycles of creating and testing versions. The device was tested in various environments to ensure its accuracy and reliability. It effectively detects even minor fluctuations in heart rate, including arrhythmias, facilitating early detection and timely medical intervention, which improves health outcomes. Future research will aim to validate the device's performance and integrate it into telemedicine. Upcoming features may include real-time communication, allowing doctors to give immediate feedback and instructions to patients, thereby improving heart health management, additional sensors may be added.