The first port of call with any medical worries is usually the GP. But what if we could get an instant check on key aspects of our health – by popping to the bathroom instead?
That could soon be a reality with the development of a range of ‘smart’ loos that can measure everything from heart rate and blood oxygen levels, to whether there is blood in our poo (a potential sign of bowel cancer).
Some even monitor urine as it is expelled into the bowl to detect patterns that suggest a man has an enlarged prostate.
The idea is that, instead of waiting until symptoms appear, our bathroom habits could be used as an early warning system that something needs addressing before it causes major problems.
Scientists have spent the past two decades exploring ways to turn the humble WC into a do-it-yourself diagnostic centre.
One of the most recent developments is a high-tech loo seat capable of detecting atrial fibrillation (AF), an abnormal heart rhythm that is a major cause of stroke.
Around 1.4 million people in the UK have the condition, which causes the heart to beat irregularly. As a result blood can pool and form clots. If one travels to the brain, it can block a blood vessel and trigger a stroke. AF can be particularly dangerous because it often comes and goes, so may not be spotted until the patient has a stroke.
And diagnosing the condition remains challenging.
Patients may be given a Holter monitor to wear – this records the heart’s electrical activity for up to 48 hours.
But it only provides a snapshot of what is happening in the body and can be uncomfortable.
New York-based health tech firm Casana has developed a loo seat that does an ECG. It also has a sensor that carries out a photoplethysmography – where a light is shone through the skin to measure heart rate and blood-oxygen levels
Scientists hope the smart loo seat could offer a simpler alternative. Developed by German firm Hamberger Medical, the computerised seat contains four electrodes that perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) – a test that measures the heart’s electrical activity.
When someone sits down, the seat records heart activity for 30 seconds, before sending the results to a smartphone app that can transmit them to a doctor.
Hamberger Medical says a recent clinical trial comparing the loo seat ECG with a conventional hospital ECG – where electrodes are attached to the chest – showed it was equally effective at detecting heart rhythm abnormalities. But the findings have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The battery-powered seat costs just over £1,000 and is currently available only in Germany.
‘This is an interesting concept,’ says Dr Klaus Witte, a consultant cardiologist at the Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine.
‘An abnormal heart rhythm is one risk factor for stroke and AF is the most common type. But it’s often not found until it’s too late.’
It’s claimed that a recent clinical trial comparing the loo seat ECG with a conventional hospital ECG showed it was equally effective at detecting heart rhythm abnormalities
Dr Witte says similar technology already exists in smartwatches, ‘but the challenge with watches is that their contact [with the skin] is less than optimal as they can move around on the wrist – and they are often not ideal for interpretation.
‘For those people for whom a watch isn’t acceptable but who nevertheless want a reliable ECG, a smart loo seat could be a reasonable alternative.’
Meanwhile, New York-based health tech firm Casana has also developed a loo seat that does an ECG but in addition it has a sensor that carries out a photoplethysmography – where a light is shone through the skin to measure heart rate and blood-oxygen levels. The technology is expected to benefit patients with serious conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or lung cancer, whose oxygen levels are often low due to damage to the lungs and have to be monitored regularly.
Many currently rely on a pulse oximeter, which clips on to their index finger, to analyse blood oxygen levels. It’s hoped the smart loo seat – which automatically checks them every time they sit on it – could make it easier to detect changes earlier.
Elsewhere, tech firms are turning loos into health-monitoring systems with gadgets that clip onto the loo bowls.
Texas-based Throne Science has developed a camera that analyses all waste products as they enter the loo.
The device examines stool for colour, consistency and volume – particularly looking for blood.
It also records urine colour and concentration, while a built-in microphone analyses the sound of the urine stream – in men, this is expected to give clues to prostate health, as weaker flows and constant stop-starting could suggest benign prostatic hyperplasia, or an enlarged prostate.
Developed by German firm Hamberger Medical, the computerised loo seat contains four electrodes that perform an electrocardiogram (ECG) – a test that measures the heart’s electrical activity
If the camera can spot small changes before a man himself can, drugs would work better and surgery to shrink the enlarged tissue could be avoided. But the device is not yet available in the UK (in the US it costs $400 – £296).
Dr James Kinross, a colorectal surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and spokesman for the charity Bowel Research UK, said smart loos may be useful in future for screening for diseases such as bowel cancer.
They may also be useful in tracking how patients respond to treatments such as dietary changes, he says – and be more reliable than going off patients’ recollections.
Consumer electronics firm Withings has developed a urine analysis device that also clips on to the front of the loo bowl.
Every time someone urinates, it collects a sample in a cartridge, where sensors analyse it for hydration, acidity and ketones – acids produced when the body breaks down fat.
For most healthy people, there is little reason to routinely check ketone levels. But for those with diabetes, raised ketones can be a warning sign of a potentially dangerous build-up of acids in the blood.
Called the U-Scan Nutrio, the device costs £319.95, plus £35 a month for new cartridges.
Alex Miras, a professor of endocrinology at Ulster University, said: ‘The technology is interesting but people with type 1 diabetes are usually provided with blood ketone meters (hand-held devices that measure ketones in a single drop of blood) and they work pretty well.’
But there are downsides to ‘smart’ loos. While the idea of having a stream of health data may sound appealing, experts warn that constantly highlighting harmless fluctuations could cause unnecessary worry. ‘We already have a lot of invasive health tech that can cause unnecessary health anxiety,’ says Dr Kinross.
UPFWATCH
A diet high in ultra-processed food is linked to obesity and ill health, but does that include your favourites?
This week: Baked beans
Baked beans are a cupboard staple that often fall into the ultra-processed category. A good example is Tesco Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce, which includes modified cornflour, says dietitian Nichola Ludlam-Raine. ‘This ingredient is used in food manufacturing to stabilise and thicken sauces,’ she says.
However, baked beans do have nutritional benefits. Haricot beans are rich in fibre and protein, which support gut health and keep you feeling full for longer. They also contribute to your five-a-day. Nichola Ludlam-Raine says: ‘One way to make baked beans more nutritious is to add flavour and ingredients. Try heating them with smoked paprika, garlic, chilli flakes or cumin. You could stir in spinach or chopped tomatoes for extra vegetables, or serve on wholegrain toast with an egg or grated cheese to add protein and calcium.
‘For a less processed option, some brands avoid modified starches and keep the ingredient list very simple. For instance, M&S Baked Beans in Tomato Sauce contain beans, tomatoes and basic seasonings, making them an alternative.’
