Carly’s story

When Carly’s sister Jodie was diagnosed with Brugada Syndrome after experiencing dizzy spells during pregnancy, Carly was advised to get tested too.

That’s when she first discovered she was living with the same inherited heart condition, despite never experiencing symptoms herself.

Now, Carly understands first-hand the importance of improving diagnosis for people living with inherited heart conditions that can be difficult to detect. That’s why she’s taking part in a British Heart Foundation (BHF)-funded study exploring whether wearable technology could help identify hidden heart rhythm conditions.

I feel really lucky that we are living in a day and age where this research is happening.

Carly

A smart T-shirt that uses AI to detect dangerous heart rhythms

BHF-funded researchers are developing a smart T-shirt that could help detect dangerous heart rhythm conditions that often go unnoticed.

Currently, an ECG taken in hospital, or even at home, may look completely normal if the heart rhythm changes don’t happen while the person was being monitored. This means doctors sometimes need to do additional testing, including a test where a medication is given to provoke a dangerous rhythm, which comes with risks.

The smart T-shirt has 50 built-in sensors to mirror a 12-lead ECG. This, when combined with the power of AI to analyse the ECG information, could help uncover hidden dangerous rhythms. Researchers hope it could help doctors find people at risk sooner and get them the treatment they need.

For people like Carly and her children, that could mean earlier diagnosis, earlier support and a better future. Carly hopes the study could help improve diagnosis and treatment for other families affected by inherited heart rhythm conditions.

This Christmas, give a gift that keeps on living by helping fund innovations that could give families more time together.