If simply standing on the scale each morning and seeing how much you weigh isn’t enough to bum you out, the Withings Body Cardio scale will likely do the trick, and it might even save your life. The connected scale can detect cardiovascular problems in addition to the usual weight, and body fat.
Body Cardio gives everyone the opportunity to follow heart health at home via the introduction of a new measurement: pulse wave velocity. Recognized by the medical community as the best stand-alone indicator to provide a reliable assessment of overall cardiovascular health, pulse wave velocity assessments from Body Cardio have the potential to revolutionize how we care for our cardiovascular health.
The gadget, which recently went on sale in the Apple Store, uses sensors that measure Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) – how quickly blood pumps through your arteries – and can indicate possible health issues such as hypertension and high cholesterol.
With every beat the heart generates a wave that propagates along the arteries. The propagation speed of this wave is directly linked to the health of your arteries. Faster speeds indicate stiffer arteries, which increase the risk of developing hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
We’re not quite at the point where the scale will identify the reasons for your poor PWV readings, but the device’s connected iPhone app will alert you when it’s in the range where you should schedule a doctor’s visit.
The 0.7-inch thick scale offers a solid aluminum base, which Withings says works equally well on any surface, from a hard floor to a thick carpet. It offers both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and works with any iPhone 4S or later, running iOS 7 or later. The battery charge is said to last a year, and can be recharged with the included microUSB cable.
The Withings Body Cardio scale is available from Apple retail stores, or via the Withing’s website, and is priced at $179.95, (available in white or black).
(Via 9to5Mac)
