A Glimpse at Wearable Tech for Asthma Patients That Runs on Body Heat

Imagine wearable sensors that are powered by the heat and motion of your body.

Without the limitations of a bulky battery, these tiny and sophisticated sensors could be sewn inside clothing or worn on the wrist. Scientists in North Carolina are working on this new kind of wearable tech right now.

The first group of patients that may benefit from such advancements?

The over 50 million people in the U.S. that suffer from asthma and other respiratory diseases.

A growing area of new technology can detect how the body will react to pollution levels and send an alert to the consumer. A new video from Science360 News features a National Science Foundation-funded team at North Carolina State University using wearable tech to track vitals, like hydration levels and heart rate. The same devices can also monitor the immediate environment, including the varying presence of gases in the air.

Asthma patients need to constantly worry about potential triggers, from dust mites to smog. The team of researchers and scientists, led by Veena Misra, hope, in the next five to ten years, their wearable technology will provide an "early warning system" to these patients.

This isn't the only wearable technology that is aimed at supporting patients with asthma. Bay Area-based Propeller Health has developed a mobile app and sensors that can help people with asthma manage their condition.