Vital Signs and Health Indicators Information

Welcome to the Vital Signs and Health Indicators page! At AIME, we are committed to empowering individuals with comprehensive insights into their health and wellness. We are rolling out a robust suite of health markers designed to provide meaningful, actionable data about your body and overall well-being to achieve this.

Our introduction of these vital signs and indicators will happen in three strategic phases:

Alpha Test Stage: In this initial phase, a core set of vital signs will be made available to alpha testers. This foundational data will help users familiarize themselves with the platform while allowing us to gather valuable feedback.
Alpha Update Stage: During this phase, we will expand the scope by introducing additional health markers. This update aims to enhance functionality and provide a more comprehensive health overview as we refine and optimize the platform.
Beta Test Stage: The final phase will unveil the complete vital signs and health indicators suite. At this stage, users will experience the full potential of AIME’s capabilities as we prepare for public release.

Stay tuned for updates as we take steps to redefine how you understand and monitor your health and wellness!

Wellness Score

The Wellness Score is a prediction risk score used to predict a person’s cardiovascular risk for 5 to 10 years. The Wellness Score is based on the vital signs measured by the technology. It is designed to serve as a reference when measured at rest, under similar conditions during all measurements, and if the score is consistent in repeated measurements over time.

The higher the wellness score, the lower the cardiovascular risk.

How is it calculated?

Your Wellness Score is calculated using the results of any single vitals measurement. The values of each one of the vital sign measurements affect your Wellness Score prediction.

Generally, a lower Heart Rate at rest implies more efficient heart function and better cardiovascular fitness. Therefore, a higher Heart Rate reduces your Wellness Score – even when the heart rate is within the normal range. For example, heart rates that are higher than 65 reduce the wellness score to a medium score, and values that are higher than 84 reduce the wellness score to a low score.

HRV measures the variation in time between heartbeats. The Stress Level calculated from this variance also affects your Wellness Score. Thus, very high and high stress levels are correlated with a low score, while Mild and Normal stress levels are correlated with a medium score.

Your Oxygen Saturation level measures the amount of oxygen in the blood delivered from the lungs to the rest of the body. A higher level implies a more efficient function; thus, a lower Oxygen Saturation level reduces the Wellness Score.

In addition, High Blood Pressure readings at rest may pose a higher risk of health problems, reducing the Wellness Score.

Heart Rate

This is the number of times your heart beats per minute. For a healthy adult, the normal resting rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute.

Think of your heart as a pump that pushes blood through your body. With every beat, the heart pumps blood containing oxygen and nutrients around the body, bringing back waste products. A healthy heart supplies the body with the right amount of blood at a rate proportionate to its activity.

Normal resting rates can differ between people. Furthermore, heart rates are lower when at rest and increase during exercise. This rate can change with different situations, such as the weather, body position, emotions, body size, medication, and the use of caffeine and nicotine.

At rest, a fast Heart Rate may indicate acute health conditions such as an infection, dehydration, stress, anxiety, thyroid disorder, shock, anemia, or certain heart conditions. Moreover, it can predict long-term risk for cardiovascular events. A low Heart Rate is common for people who exercise frequently and participate in athletics.

Tracking Heart Rate can provide insight into fitness levels, heart health, and emotional health.
Moreover, for individuals taking medication for cardiovascular conditions, daily Heart Rate measurements can assist the doctor in advising on the proper course of treatment.

A healthy heartbeat is important in protecting cardiac health. If your heart beats out of rhythm (too fast or too slow), speak to a doctor about your symptoms.

Breathing Rate

The number of breaths you take per minute. The standard at-rest Breathing Rate is 12 to 20 breaths per minute for a healthy adult. In general, breathing rates are slightly faster in women than in men.

When you inhale, oxygen enters your lungs and circulates to the various internal organs. When you exhale, carbon dioxide moves out of the body. A normal Breathing Rate plays a critical role in keeping the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide even in the body. If the oxygen level in the blood is low or the carbon dioxide level is high, your Breathing Rate increases.

Various factors affect the Breathing Rate, including injuries, exercise, fever, anxiety, emotions, mood, alcohol, medication, metabolic issues, and medical conditions. A high or low rate might result from an activity and, therefore, does not indicate anything wrong. However, in other cases, such as various diseases, injuries, dehydration, or heart problems, a change in the Breathing Rate may occur that can be considered abnormal, necessitating medical attention.

Knowing your Breathing Rate can help your doctor provide you with medical advice. If your Breathing Rate changes or you feel that your breathing is too fast or too slow, speak to a doctor about your symptoms.

PRQ

The Pulse-Respiration Quotient (PRQ) measures the ratio of a person’s pulse rate (measured in beats per minute) to their respiratory rate (measured in breaths per minute).

The PRQ reflects the efficiency with which the heart and lungs work together. In general, the normal PRQ ratio is around 5. This ratio is kept both when the pulse rate is low and high. When the pulse rate is 60bpm, the respiration rate is expected to be around 12rpm, and at a pulse rate of 100bpm, the expected respiration rate is about 20rpm. In case of a severe deviation from this ratio, the subject needs to consult a physician for further examination.

The pulse-respiration quotient metric measures to what extent this interplay is functioning normally. A low or high score would indicate that your HR and/or BR are working disproportionately, which may indicate that both the heart and the lungs are working inefficiently. Moreover, abnormal PRQ readings indicate a person’s pathophysiological state (the functional changes associated with or resulting from disease or injury).

Oxygen Saturation

Oxygen Saturation, or SpO2, measures how much oxygen the red blood cells are carrying from the lungs to the rest of the body. Normal SpO2 for healthy lungs ranges between 95% and 100%. However, for individuals with chronic conditions or lung diseases, it could be lower than 95%.

A low level of oxygen in the blood is called hypoxemia. Typically, an Oxygen Saturation level lower than 90% is considered hypoxemia, which chronic pulmonary diseases can cause (COPD, COVID-19, Asthma, Lung Fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension), heart failure, sleep apnea, anemia, and high-altitude exposure (insufficient oxygen in the air) and medications that suppress breathing control.

Common symptoms of hypoxemia include headache, rapid heart rate, coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, confusion, and blueness of the skin and mucus membranes (cyanosis). Oxygen Saturation levels can also help athletes understand whether a decrease in performance is a result of altitude changes or ability.

If you feel that your oxygen Saturation is low, speak to a doctor about your symptoms. They will let you know what is normal for your specific condition.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure exerts pressure on the walls of the arteries, which carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. Normal systolic pressure is between 100 and 129.

Blood Pressure measures the pressure of circulating blood against artery walls. It is measured by two numbers. The first number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood throughout the body. The second number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and filling with blood.

Most people don’t know if they have high Blood Pressure—especially since there may be no noticeable warning signs or symptoms—so it must be measured.

Blood pressure changes in response to different activities should be measured at rest. Consistently high blood pressure readings may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure (hypertension), which poses a higher risk for health problems such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. High blood pressure usually has no defined cause, which is called primary hypertension. However, it is related to unhealthy lifestyles such as physical inactivity, stressful life, obesity, shift work, pregnancy, etc. It should be emphasized that Blood Pressure can be managed through diagnosis, lifestyle changes, medication, and long-term monitoring.

Blood Pressure is categorized as low, normal, or elevated: low blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure of less than 100, normal blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure of 100 to 129, and elevated blood pressure is defined as a systolic pressure of 130 or higher.

These numbers should be used as a guide only. A single Blood Pressure measurement that is higher than normal is not necessarily an indication of a problem. Your doctor will want to see multiple Blood Pressure measurements over several days or weeks before diagnosing high blood pressure and commencing treatment.

Stress Level

The body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. There are five levels of Stress:

Low
Normal
Mild
High
Very High

The human body is designed to experience Stress and react to it. Your body produces physical and mental responses when you deal with challenges and changes. Stress might be positive, keeping us alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger. However, Stress becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief or periods of relaxation.

The application’s Stress Level measurement is based on Baevsky’s Stress Index, which has been approved for use in the US and Europe. The index is calculated using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measurements.

It’s important to note that Stress Levels are indicative only and need to be corroborated with other parameters by a doctor before a valid diagnosis can be made. Stress Levels are highly dynamic and should be monitored over longer periods to detect abnormal trends.

Stress Index

Stress is the body’s reaction to a challenge or demand.

The stress index is calculated from Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measurements, which means that stress levels are derived from physiological conditions. HRV analysis is a globally accepted methodology and technique for evaluating an organism’s functional state and, specifically, components of the autonomic nervous system.

The Stress Index is used to set the Stress Level.

Recovery Ability (PNS Zone)

The Recovery Ability, also known as the “rest and digest” response, refers to the body’s ability to recover, accumulate energy, and regulate bodily functions after stressful occurrences. This is part of the autonomic system, which consists of two subsystems: the sympathetic (Stress Response) system and the parasympathetic (Recovery Ability) system. Your Heart Rate Variability is reflected in the balance between these two subsystems.

There are three zones of Recovery Ability:

Low
Normal
High

The normal and high zones are more desirable than the low zone. In these zones, the body can effectively conserve energy, relax, or recover from a stressful occurrence.

The parasympathetic metric measures the activity of the PNS and indicates how capable a person is of relaxing or recovering after stressful events. A low zone indicates a stressful state, while a high zone suggests calmness.

The system plays an important role in alleviating stress and promoting recovery. It does so by inhibiting the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and ceasing the production of stress hormones. It returns bodily functions to their resting state by slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, reducing muscle tension, and restoring regular breathing, digestion, and glandular activity.

The recovery ability is derived from the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) index. The PNS Index calculation is based on the parameters Mean RRi, RMSSD, and SD1.

These zones should be used as a guide only. Seek a doctor’s advice to obtain a valid diagnosis.

PNS Index

The PNS Index calculation is based on the following three parameters: mean RRi, RMSSD, and SD1. It indicates the body’s Recovery Ability zones.

Mean RRi

Mean RRi is the average time between the RR intervals (RRi) in milliseconds. RRi is the variation of the interval between successive heartbeats. A longer Mean RR interval indicates a lower heart rate and higher parasympathetic cardiac activation.

The Mean RRi, along with RMSSD and SD1, is one of the parameters used to calculate the PNS Index.

RMSSD

An important measure of the Heart Rate Variability. RMSSD is the root mean square of successive RR interval differences. It reflects the beat-to-beat variance in the heart rate. RMSSD can help identify a general level of fatigue. In addition, a higher RMSSD is linked to parasympathetic control, a sign that you are in the “rest and digest” mode. A lower RMSSD is linked to elevated sympathetic activity, indicating a Stress Response.

RMSSD is one of the parameters used to calculate the PNS Index, along with Mean RRi and SD1.

SD1

SD1 is a poincaré plot standard deviation perpendicular to the line of identity.

SD1 is one of the parameters used to calculate the PNS Index, along with RRi and RMSSD.

Stress Response (SNS Zone)

The Stress Response, also known as the “fight or flight” response, refers to a physiological reaction to imminent danger that occurs when we are scared, anxious, stressed, attacked, or threatened. Essentially, it prepares our body to either deal with a threat or run for safety. This is part of the autonomic system, which consists of two subsystems: the sympathetic (Stress Response) system and the parasympathetic (recovery ability) system. Your Heart Rate Variability is reflected in the balance between those two subsystems.

There are three zones of Stress Response:

Low
Medium
High

The normal and low zones are more desirable than the high zone. In these zones, the body is able to respond effectively to stressful situations and emergencies.

When preparing for an emergency, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activates numerous complex pathways and components. These physiological activities help to achieve a faster heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Noticeable changes include blood flow that moves away from the skin and stomach and is redirected from the intestines to the brain, heart, and muscles, as well as sweating, “goose-bumps,” dilation of the pupils, and a host of other feelings that appear during the Stress Response. In addition, there is a psychological aspect to the Stress Response. Automated responses include quick thinking and focusing on salient targets, such as the source of the threat and escape options.

The stress created by a situation is helpful and increases the chances of coping effectively with the threat. This stress can help you perform better when pressured to do well.

This Stress Response is derived from the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) Index, which is calculated based on three parameters: Heart Rate, Baevsky’s Stress Index, and SD2.

These zones should be used as a guide only. Seek a doctor’s advice to obtain a valid diagnosis.

SNS Index

The SNS index is calculated using three parameters: Heart Rate, Baevsky’s stress index, and SD2. It is used to set the stress response zone.

SD 2

SD2 is a poincaré plot standard deviation along the line of identity.

SD2 is one of the parameters used to calculate the SNS Index, along with Heart Rate and Baevsky’s Stress Index.

RRi Raw Data

The RR interval is the time between successive heartbeats’ “R” peaks in milliseconds.

An individual’s heartbeats do not occur at constant intervals but rather with a small variance between them. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is the variation in time between the heartbeats. You can export the RR interval raw data for analysis use.

HRV SDNN

SDNN is a calculated Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameter that represents the standard deviation of normal-to-normal R-R-intervals. SDNN is expressed in milliseconds; a typical value for this is over 50. However, SDNN values also depend on age and gender and normally become lower with age.

An individual’s heartbeats do not occur at constant intervals but rather with a small variance between them. HRV measures the variation in time between the heartbeats.

High HRV levels generally indicate aerobic and general fitness. Athletes may track HRV to adjust their training program. They can learn when the body is being overworked, which often results in a drop in HRV, and how fast it recovers. Moreover, persons with high HRV may be more resilient to stress.

HRV measurements provide feedback about your lifestyle and can help inspire you to take steps toward a healthier life. If you are implementing changes in your lifestyle, such as meditation, better sleep, better nutrition, and participation in sports and physical activity, you may notice changes in the HRV. In addition, this could help track your nervous system’s reactions to the environment, emotions, thoughts, and feelings.

The sympathetic system (Stress Response) is activated when the body is under stress, causing the heart to beat faster and more regularly and decreasing HRV. The parasympathetic system (Recovery Ability) manages the heart’s activity to help the body reach a relaxed state and recover from a stressful event. This relaxation response results in a slower and less regular heartbeat and is indicated by a higher HRV.

If you have questions about your results, seek a doctor’s advice. They will tell you what’s normal for your specific condition.

LF/HF

LF and HF represent low-frequency and high-frequency bands, representing sympathetic and parasympathetic activity.

The LF/HF ratio reflects the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. The normal range is between LF(ms²)/HF(ms²) = 0.27 – 0.38. A lower ratio of LF/HF indicates a high Parasympathetic stress level and a higher ratio indicates increased Sympathetic activity, which is a stress biomarker.

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a protein in a person’s red blood cells that carries oxygen to the human body’s organs and tissues and transports carbon dioxide from your organs and tissues back to your lungs.
Hemoglobin is measured in g/dL and resolution up to 0.1 g/dL

The category is based on your profile gender. The healthy ranges are:

Men: 14 to 18 g/dL
Women: 12 to 16 g/dL

Hemoglobin A1C

Hemoglobin A1C (or HbA1c) represents the average blood glucose (sugar) level for the last two to three months. It is measured in percentage with a resolution of up to 0.01%.

HbA1c ranges:

Normal < 5.6%
Prediabetes risk 5.7-6.4%
Diabetes risk > 6.5%

Hypertension Risk

Hypertension Risk assesses an individual’s risk of suffering from hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a common condition that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health complications. This indicator categorizes hypertension risk into low or high based on blood pressure readings.

Lifestyle changes, including diet modifications, regular exercise, and stress management, are crucial in reducing hypertension risk. Monitoring blood pressure regularly and consulting healthcare providers for personalized advice and treatment is essential to managing and lowering hypertension risk.

Diabetes Risk

Diabetes Risk assesses an individual’s risk of suffering from diabetes. The sensors use a range of parameters, including HbA1c levels. HbA1c, or glycated hemoglobin, reflects average blood sugar levels over the past three months. This indicator categorizes diabetes risk as low, medium, or high.

Diabetes Risk is crucial for early detection and intervention. Elevated HbA1c levels indicate higher blood sugar levels over time, suggesting that the individual is either at a greater risk of developing diabetes or already suffers from it. Lifestyle modifications, such as dietary changes and increased physical activity, can help mitigate this risk. Regular monitoring and consultation with healthcare professionals are essential for accurate assessment and personalized management strategies.