Stanford researchers may have found a way to measure cortisol levels, via Wearable-technologies

Researchers are focusing on sweat as a way to detect stress levels. However, wearables that use sweat to detect stress normally track heart rate, temperature, and perspiration levels as markers for stress. But all of those markers can be affected by non-stress factors as well.

Cortisol is our body’s main stress hormone. It works with certain parts of our brain to control our mood, motivation, and fear. Therefore, a change in the amount of cortisol produced by the body can be a better indicator of stress. Cortisol level goes up when a person is under physical or emotional strain.

That’s why its crucial for a wearable device to provide accurate and ongoing measurements of cortisol levels in order to detect stress levels.

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a wearable patch that can determine how much cortisol someone is producing in seconds, using sweat drawn from the skin under the patch, reports IEEE Spectrum.

Learn more!