Health state monitoring system, method, and program

Abstract

This health state monitoring system comprises: a biological sensor (10) that measures a physiological index of a user; a headache state analysis unit (23) that performs, on the basis of a measurement value from the biological sensor (10), determination of an occurrence risk of headache of the user and determination of a headache type; and a notification unit (22) that, when a result is obtained indicating the possibility of headache occurrence, notifies the user of the determination result.

Description

Health monitoring system, method and program

[0001] The present invention relates to a health monitoring system, method and program for determining the risk of headache occurrence and type of headache.

[0002] Headaches are one of the pains that many people experience in their daily lives. For example, it is known that headaches can be caused by changes in atmospheric pressure. Non-Patent Document 1 presents the relationship between atmospheric pressure information and changes in physical condition.

[0003] However, changes in atmospheric pressure are not the only cause of headaches. There are various types of headaches, which can be broadly divided into tension headaches, migraines, and cluster headaches. Tension headaches are caused by poor circulation and muscle tension due to maintaining the same posture for long periods of time, and are said to be more common in people who are prone to mental stress. Migraines are thought to be caused by changes in weather conditions such as changes in atmospheric pressure, sleep state, fatigue, fluctuations in female hormones, stimulation from light and sound, and the resulting dilation of blood vessels.

[0004] Cluster headaches are thought to have various causes, including excessive secretion of male hormones and disruptions to the body's biological clock. While cluster headaches are extremely painful, the number of people who suffer from them is smaller than those who suffer from tension-type headaches and migraines. In addition to the headaches mentioned above, there are also secondary headaches caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis, brain tumors, depression, eye diseases, nasal diseases, jaw diseases, and excessive medication use. Of these headaches, tension-type headaches affect approximately 20% of the population, while migraines affect approximately 5-10% of the population, making them very common.

[0005] Approximately 74% of people with headaches experience some degree of disruption to their daily lives. Early detection of underlying abnormalities and the implementation of appropriate measures are crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, different types of headaches may have opposite causes, such as tension headaches caused by vasoconstriction and migraines caused by vasodilation. Therefore, some measures may have contradictory results in terms of headache relief.

[0006] Therefore, it is desirable to be able to predict the type of headache along with the occurrence of headache. As disclosed in Non-Patent Document 1, techniques for predicting the occurrence of headaches due to changes in weather conditions have been proposed, but no technique for predicting the occurrence of headaches due to causes other than changes in weather conditions has been realized, and there is a need for a prediction technique that can handle a wider variety of headaches.

[0007] Masahito Katsuki, et al., “Investigating the effects of weather on headache occurrence using a smartphone application and artificial intelligence:A retrospective observational cross-sectional study”, American Headache Society, 2023, <https: / / doi.org / 10.1111 / head.14482>

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a health status monitoring system, method, and program that can predict not only the risk of headache occurrence but also the type of headache.

[0009] The health status monitoring system of the present invention is characterized by comprising a biosensor configured to measure a user's physiological indicators, a headache condition analysis unit configured to determine the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the biosensor, and a notification unit configured to notify the user of the determination result when the headache condition analysis unit determines that there is a possibility of a headache occurring.

[0010] In addition, the health status monitoring method of the present invention is characterized by including a first step of measuring a user's physiological indicators using a biosensor, a second step of determining the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the biosensor, and a third step of notifying the user of the determination result if the second step results in a result indicating the possibility of developing a headache.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to determine the risk of headache occurrence and the type of headache based on measurements obtained from a biosensor. This allows users to improve their ability to analyze symptoms commonly referred to as headaches and understand the causes and risks of headaches. Therefore, even users who are not fully aware of the causes of their own symptoms can visualize their potential risk of headaches by using the system of the present invention. Furthermore, it is possible to propose and implement measures tailored to the cause of headaches and present preventive measures, thereby achieving effective improvement in quality of life.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a health monitoring system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining the principle of blood flow measurement using a biosensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between tension-type headaches and blood flow changes. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between migraines and blood flow changes. FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of a headache condition analysis unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a measurement device attached to a user's head and neck. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing another example of a measurement device attached to a user's head and neck. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a measurement device attached to a user's neck. FIG. 9 is a flowchart explaining another operation of a headache condition analysis unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a health monitoring system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of blood flow changes and air pressure changes. FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining the operation of a headache condition analysis unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a health monitoring system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measurement device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 15 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a measurement device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 16 is a diagram explaining the effect of the treatment by the biostimulation unit according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 17 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a computer that realizes the health monitoring systems according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] [First embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a health monitoring system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The health monitoring system comprises a measurement device 1 and an information processing device 2, which may be a server device or a smartphone.

[0014] The measurement device 1 includes a biosensor 10 that measures physiological indicators of the user (living body), a communication unit 11 that communicates with the information processing device 2, and a control unit 12 that controls the entire measurement device. The information processing device 2 includes a communication unit 20 that communicates with the measurement device 1, a control unit 21 that controls the entire information processing device, and a notification unit 22 that notifies the user of the determination results. The control unit 21 functions as a headache state analysis unit 23 that determines the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the biosensor 10.

[0015] The measurement device 1 is in the form of a wearable device that is attached to the neck, head, or other part of the user. The biosensor 10 continuously or intermittently measures the user's blood flow information. Figure 2 is a diagram explaining the principle of blood flow measurement by the biosensor 10. Here, the biosensor 10 is shown as a laser Doppler blood flow sensor.

[0016] The biosensor 10 includes a laser diode 100 and a photodiode 101. The user's skin tissue includes an epidermis 200, a dermis 201, and capillaries 202. The laser diode 100 irradiates the user's skin tissue with laser light. The laser light propagates within the skin tissue while being repeatedly scattered and reflected. The light scattered from the skin tissue is received by the photodiode 101 and converted into an electrical signal.

[0017] The scattered light from blood components such as hemoglobin and oxygenated hemoglobin flowing through blood vessels generates a frequency shift due to the Doppler effect proportional to the moving speed of the blood components. In the example of Figure 2, the frequency of the irradiated light and the frequency of the scattered light from stationary tissue are expressed as ω ０ , the frequency of the scattered light shifted by the moving blood cells is ω ０+Δω. Because there is a frequency difference between the light scattered from stationary tissue and the light scattered from moving blood cells, a beat signal is generated by the interference of these lights. In the power spectrum of the beat signal, the Doppler shift frequency on the horizontal axis corresponds to the speed of the blood cells, and the power on the vertical axis corresponds to the amount of blood cells. Approximately speaking, the blood flow rate is the sum of the products of the speed and number of blood cells. Therefore, the blood flow rate can be calculated from the power spectrum of the beat signal.

[0018] Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between tension-type headaches and changes in blood flow. Tension-type headaches are caused by poor blood circulation. The risk of developing tension-type headaches increases when blood vessels in the neck and head constrict and blood flow deteriorates. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, it is predicted that the likelihood of developing tension-type headaches increases when blood flow volume or blood flow velocity is reduced or predicted to be reduced compared to normal blood flow.

[0019] Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between migraines and changes in blood flow. Migraines are caused by vascular dilation. Therefore, as shown in Figure 4, when blood flow volume or blood flow velocity increases or is expected to increase compared to normal blood flow, the likelihood of a migraine occurring is predicted to increase. It is also said that migraines can occur when blood vessels are released from a constricted state due to stress or other factors and then dilate. Therefore, the likelihood of a migraine occurring can be determined when blood flow volume or blood flow velocity changes from a decreased state to an increased state.

[0020] 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the headache state analysis unit 23 of the measurement device 1. The headache state analysis unit 23 acquires a measurement value from the biosensor 10 (step S100 in FIG. 5), and calculates the degree of deviation between the measurement value and a known normal value (step S101 in FIG. 5).

[0021] 1 , the control unit 12 of the measurement device 1 acquires measurement values ​​from the biosensor 10, and the communication unit 11 transmits the measurement values ​​to the information processing device 2. The headache state analysis unit 23 acquires the measurement values ​​via the communication unit 20 of the information processing device 2. In order to reduce the influence of individual differences that exist in measurement values ​​such as blood flow volume or blood flow velocity, it is preferable to determine the risk of headache occurrence based on the degree of deviation between the measurement value and the normal value.

[0022] When the headache state analysis unit 23 determines that there is a possibility of a headache occurring (YES in step S102 in FIG. 5 ), it notifies the user of the determination result via the notification unit 22 (step S103 in FIG. 5 ). The notification content also includes information on the type of headache. The headache state analysis unit 23 determines that there is a possibility of a tension-type headache occurring when the deviation degree obtained by subtracting the normal value from the measured value falls below the threshold for determining a tension-type headache. In addition, the headache state analysis unit 23 determines that there is a possibility of a migraine occurring when the deviation degree exceeds the threshold for determining a migraine.

[0023] The measurement value does not have to be a value at a single point in time, but may be a statistical feature such as a vector or average value summarizing data over a certain period of time. In the above example, the deviation is the difference (distance) between the measurement value and the normal value, but the deviation may also be the slope of the approximation line of the measurement value data relative to the approximation line of the normal value data, the variance of the measurement value, or an abnormality determination value based on Hotelling's theory. The normal value can be calculated in advance from the average value of the measurement value in a resting state, or the average value or variance of the measurement value during a period with little change.

[0024] The measured values ​​contain high-frequency noise components, so it is desirable to smooth them appropriately. The headache state analysis unit 23 can reduce errors in judgment by leaving only the gently fluctuating components of the measured values ​​through smoothing processing such as a low-pass filter or a moving average filter.

[0025] In the above example, whether or not there is a possibility of a headache occurring at present is determined based on the current measurement value, but the risk of a headache occurring may be predicted earlier by predicting future measurement values. Methods for predicting future measurement values ​​include, for example, a prediction method using a Kalman filter, a prediction method using a regression model such as an AR (Auto Regressive) model or its derivative model, and a prediction method using machine learning.

[0026] A user's past measurement values ​​and past headache history data may be accumulated, and a threshold may be set using the accumulated results to determine whether or not a headache is likely to occur. Furthermore, not only the user's past measurement values ​​and past headache history data may be accumulated, but also multiple users' past measurement values ​​and past headache history data may be accumulated, and a threshold may be set using the accumulated results. By using past data, the type of headache and the risk of occurrence can be determined with higher accuracy. In this way, for example, the risk of headache occurrence at the current time, the risk of occurrence one hour later, the risk of occurrence three hours later, the risk of occurrence today, etc. may be determined, and when it is determined that a headache is likely to occur, the determination result may be notified to the user.

[0027] The data may be measured using high-speed sampling, which obtains measurements at intervals of one second or less, or may be a combination of different sampling rates, such as sampling at intervals ranging from a few seconds to one minute and sampling at intervals ranging from one minute to ten minutes.

[0028] FIG. 6 shows an example of the measurement device 1 attached to the head and neck of a user. The measurement device 1 is attached to the skin of the user's head and neck 203, for example, with an adhesive. The measurement device 1 is preferably attached between the forehead and the side of the head to avoid interference from hair. The user's head contains the superficial temporal artery, which is prone to feeling pain from migraines. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable to attach the measurement device 1 near the temple where the superficial temporal artery is located. When attaching the measurement device 1 to the neck, it is preferable to attach it near the carotid artery.

[0029] 7A and 7B are diagrams showing another example in which the measurement device 1 is worn on the head and neck of a user. In the example of FIG. 7A, the measurement device 1 is worn by hanging it over the user's ear 204. In this case, the measurement device 1 has a hook 13 for hanging it over the ear 204. Of the hook 13, the connecting portion 130 to the main body of the measurement device 1 may have a curved or bent structure as shown in FIG. 7B. By adopting such a structure, the contact between the user's head and neck 203 and the measurement device 1 is improved, and more accurate measurement values ​​can be obtained. Alternatively, the measurement device 1 may be an earring-type device worn on the user's ear 204.

[0030] Although examples of the form of the measurement device 1 are shown in Figures 6 and 7, the measurement device 1 is not limited to the above forms, and other forms such as a headband type, a hat type, or an earphone type may also be adopted.

[0031] For tension headaches, applying heat is an effective treatment. On the other hand, for migraines, applying cold is an effective treatment, and applying heat can be counterproductive. According to this embodiment, the user is notified not only of the possibility of headache occurrence, but also of the type of headache. This allows the user to avoid counterproductive treatment, allowing for early and appropriate treatment, and effectively alleviating the headache.

[0032] In this embodiment, the measurement device 1 may be worn on a part other than the head and neck of the user. For example, a ring-type, band-type, or adhesive-type measurement device 1 may be used that is worn on the user's fingers, wrist, trunk, etc. Measurements at peripheral parts such as the extremities are easily affected by the outside temperature, etc. Therefore, when performing measurements at peripheral parts, it is desirable to use a sensor other than a blood flow sensor as the biosensor 10.

[0033] In addition to a laser Doppler blood flow sensor, sensors that can be used as the biosensor 10 include blood flow sensors using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), blood flow sensors using optical coherence tomography (OCT), ultrasonic Doppler blood flow sensors, and electromagnetic induction blood flow sensors.

[0034] Other examples of the biosensor 10 include an electrocardiogram sensor, a pulse wave sensor using photoplethysmography (PPG), a pressure pulse wave sensor, a body temperature sensor such as a thermistor or an infrared sensor, an electromyogram sensor, a bioimpedance sensor, and an acceleration sensor.

[0035] When an electrocardiogram sensor is used as the biosensor 10, electrodes are attached to multiple parts of the user's body, and the potential difference between the electrodes is amplified and measured. A pulse wave sensor using a PPG measures pulse waves by irradiating the user's blood vessels with light having wavelengths such as green, red, or infrared, receiving the transmitted or reflected light with a light-receiving element, and converting it into an electrical signal. In the case of a PPG, light having wavelengths such as green, red, or infrared is more suitable than light with short wavelengths in terms of its invasiveness and absorbability into the living body. A pressure pulse wave sensor detects movement associated with pulsation by placing a piezoelectric element directly above the blood vessels.

[0036] An electrocardiogram sensor and a pulse wave sensor can estimate the state of the user's autonomic nervous system from fluctuations in the user's heart rate and heartbeat intervals. Therefore, by providing an electrocardiogram sensor and a pulse wave sensor in addition to a blood flow sensor as the biosensor 10, the user's activity state and stress state can be monitored. This makes it possible to determine whether the user is in a situation where blood flow is likely to change, such as during exercise, or whether the user is in a stressful state where blood flow is likely to deteriorate, thereby improving the accuracy of determining the risk of headache occurrence.

[0037] During exercise, blood flow increases with increasing heart rate, so stricter thresholds and criteria for determining headache risk can reduce erroneous determinations. Furthermore, an indicator of stress state is the LF / HF ratio, calculated from the LF (low frequency) and HF (high frequency) components of heart rate variability. LF / HF represents the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. A high LF / HF ratio indicates a high level of stress in the user, raising concerns about vascular constriction due to the sympathetic nervous system. When the LF / HF ratio rises and then falls, and the user returns to a normal state or becomes relaxed, the blood vessels relax, potentially triggering a migraine. Therefore, monitoring the LF / HF ratio is suitable for improving the accuracy of determining the risk of migraine onset.

[0038] NIRS is a method for measuring blood flow by irradiating a user with infrared light of wavelengths of approximately 700 nm to 1000 nm from a light-emitting element, receiving the reflected light with a light-receiving element positioned approximately 1 cm to 10 cm away from the light-emitting element, and analyzing the reflected light. The optical penetration depth varies depending on the distance between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element, and the further away the light is from the light-emitting element to the light-receiving element, the deeper the light penetrates. However, because the signal weakens due to light scattering and absorption, the distance between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element is preferably approximately 2 cm to 5 cm.

[0039] Ultrasonic Doppler blood flow sensors use ultrasound instead of light, and although they have lower resolution than laser Doppler blood flow sensors, they can obtain information over a wider area. This reduces the impact of positional accuracy when worn by the user, making them suitable for wearable devices.

[0040] Body temperature sensors include contact sensors such as thermistors and heat flow sensors, as well as non-contact sensors such as infrared sensors. Body temperature sensors can not only monitor the user's daily physical condition, but can also estimate deep body temperature, making it possible to detect disruptions in lifestyle habits and incorporate potential increases in the risk of headaches into predictions.

[0041] Basal body temperature can also be measured by recording body temperature at the same time every day or immediately after waking up. Basal body temperature can be used to estimate a woman's menstrual cycle and determine the risk of headaches caused by the drop in estrogen that occurs several days before menstruation. This also makes it possible to determine the risk of gender-specific headaches. Furthermore, a body temperature sensor can detect a short-term rise in body temperature due to alcohol consumption, making it possible to determine the risk of alcohol-related headaches.

[0042] When an electromyographic sensor is used as the biosensor 10, electrodes are attached to multiple parts of the user's body to measure electrical signals, similar to an electrocardiographic sensor. The electrodes may be shared and the electrical signals may be separated using a filter circuit. This makes it possible to reduce the area of ​​the user's skin on which the electrodes are attached. When a bioimpedance sensor is used as the biosensor 10, electrodes are attached to multiple parts of the user's body and a weak current is passed between the electrodes to measure bioimpedance.

[0043] When an electromyographic sensor is used, the activity state of the user's muscles can be monitored. When high myoelectric potentials are observed in muscles such as the neck and shoulders, this is considered to be a sign of muscle tension and stiffness, and it can be determined that the risk of developing tension headaches is increased. Similarly, with bioimpedance, impedance changes due to muscle fatigue, so the risk of developing tension headaches can be determined based on the change in impedance over time. For example, muscle fatigue causes edema, which can be detected by the decrease in impedance due to moisture caused by edema. Furthermore, if an acceleration sensor is used as the biosensor 10, the user's posture can be monitored. If the user maintains the same posture for a long period of time, it can be determined that the user is in a situation where muscle tension is likely to increase.

[0044] When monitoring the state of muscles, it is desirable to use a measurement device 1 that is worn on the neck or shoulder of the user as shown in Fig. 8. In terms of measurement accuracy, it is preferable that the electromyography sensor is placed directly above the trapezius muscle of the user and the blood flow sensor is placed above the carotid artery.

[0045] The operation of the headache condition analysis unit 23 when a myoelectric sensor or bioimpedance sensor, a blood flow sensor, and a body temperature sensor are used as the biosensor 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 9. The headache condition analysis unit 23 acquires the measured values ​​of myoelectric potential or bioimpedance, the measured values ​​of blood flow volume or blood flow velocity, and the measured values ​​of body temperature from the biosensor 10 (step S200 in Fig. 9). As described above, the control unit 12 of the measurement device 1 acquires the measured values ​​from the biosensor 10, and the communication unit 11 transmits the measured values ​​to the information processing device 2. The headache condition analysis unit 23 acquires the measured values ​​via the communication unit 20 of the information processing device 2.

[0046] The headache state analysis unit 23 calculates the degree of deviation between the measured value and a known normal value (step S201 in FIG. 9 ). The method for calculating the degree of deviation between the measured value and the normal value of blood flow volume or blood flow velocity is as described above. The headache state analysis unit 23 calculates the degree of deviation, for example, as the difference between the measured value and the normal value of myoelectric potential and the difference between the measured value and the normal value of bioelectrical impedance.

[0047] Next, the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines whether the measured value of the myoelectric potential or bioelectrical impedance has changed relative to a known normal value (step S202 in FIG. 9 ). If the measured value is within a predetermined range centered on the normal value, the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that the measured value has not changed. If the measured value of the myoelectric potential has increased relative to the normal value, the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that the type of headache that may occur is a tension headache (step S204 in FIG. 9 ).

[0048] The headache condition analysis unit 23 determines whether the measured value of blood flow volume or blood flow velocity has changed relative to a known normal value (step S203 in FIG. 9 ). If the measured value is within a predetermined range centered on the normal value, the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that the measured value has not changed. If the measured value has decreased relative to the normal value, the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that the type of headache that may occur is tension headache (step S204). If the measured value has increased relative to the normal value, the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that the type of headache that may occur is migraine (step S205 in FIG. 9 ).

[0049] The headache condition analysis unit 23 determines whether the user is currently in the period within one week before menstruation based on the body temperature (step S206 in FIG. 9 ). Specifically, the headache condition analysis unit 23 estimates the user's menstrual cycle from past changes in body temperature and determines whether the current time is within one week before menstruation. However, the determination in step S206 is only performed if the user's gender has been set as female in advance. If the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that the user is currently in the period within one week before menstruation, it determines that the type of headache that may occur is migraine (step S205).

[0050] Next, the headache condition analysis unit 23 determines whether or not there is a possibility of a headache occurring (step S207 in FIG. 9 ). The headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that there is a possibility of a tension-type headache occurring when the deviation calculated for the measurement values ​​of blood flow volume or blood flow velocity falls below a threshold for determining tension-type headache. The headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that there is a possibility of a migraine occurring when the deviation calculated for the measurement values ​​of blood flow volume or blood flow velocity exceeds a threshold for determining migraine. The headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that there is a possibility of a tension-type headache occurring when the deviation calculated for the myoelectric potential exceeds a predetermined threshold for determining myoelectric potential. The headache condition analysis unit 23 determines that there is a possibility of a migraine occurring when the user is within one week before menstruation.

[0051] If the determination in step S207 indicates a possibility of headache occurrence, the notification unit 22 notifies the user of information indicating a risk of headache occurrence and information on the type of headache (step S208 in FIG. 9 ). Notification methods include, for example, display, audio notification, vibration notification, and the like, and a combination of multiple notification methods may also be used.

[0052] 9, a case has been described in which an electromyographic sensor, a blood flow sensor, and a body temperature sensor are used as the biosensor 10, but other sensors may be combined. When predicting future headaches, future measurement values ​​may be predicted and a determination similar to that in FIG.

[0053] As described above, in this embodiment, the risk of headache occurrence and the type of headache can be determined based on the measurement values ​​acquired from the biosensor 10. This allows the user to improve their ability to analyze symptoms commonly referred to as headaches and understand the causes and risks of headaches. Therefore, even users who are not fully aware of the causes of their own symptoms can visualize their potential risk of headaches by using the system of this embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to propose and implement measures tailored to the cause of headaches and present preventive measures, thereby achieving effective improvement in quality of life (QOL).

[0054] Second Example In the first example, the measurement device 1 is equipped with a biosensor 10, but an environmental sensor that measures the environment around the user may also be equipped in addition to the biosensor 10. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a health monitoring system according to a second example of the present invention. The health monitoring system of this example is composed of a measurement device 1a and an information processing device 2a.

[0055] The measurement device 1a includes a biosensor 10, a communication unit 11, a control unit 12a, and an environmental sensor 14. The information processing device 2a includes a communication unit 20, a control unit 21a, and a notification unit 22. The control unit 21a functions as a headache state analyzer 23a.

[0056] The environmental sensors 14 include sensors relating to the atmosphere such as a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and air pressure sensor, sensors relating to light such as an illuminance sensor and color sensor, and sensors relating to sound such as a microphone and noise sensor.

[0057] Migraine symptoms worsen when the temperature rises, and tension headache symptoms worsen when the temperature drops. In a humid environment, the user's metabolic efficiency decreases, which is a contributing factor to headaches. A drop in atmospheric pressure causes vasodilation, which leads to migraines. Therefore, by measuring temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, it is possible to determine the risk of headaches and the type of headache.

[0058] The air pressure sensor may be a piezo-resistive sensor that detects the deformation of the diaphragm due to external pressure as a change in resistance, or a capacitance sensor that detects the deformation of the diaphragm due to external pressure as a change in capacitance. Even a change in air pressure of around 5 hPa increases the risk of headache occurrence. Therefore, the risk value can be calculated based on the amount of decrease in the measured air pressure from 1 atmosphere. For example, when the current air pressure value is P [hPa], the headache state analysis unit 23a calculates the difference ΔP from 1 atmosphere using equation (1): ΔP = (1013 - P) ... (1)

[0059] The headache state analyzing unit 23a then calculates a continuous positive risk value using max(ΔP-5, 0). max(x, y) is a function that returns the larger of x and y. If a negative risk value is required, another function may be used.

[0060] A prolonged low pressure state increases the likelihood of headaches. Therefore, the risk value may be further increased depending on the duration of the low pressure state. To increase the risk value, the risk value for each time may be integrated. Alternatively, the risk value may be the difference between the current time and the time immediately before the atmospheric pressure was below a specified level, the difference between the current time and the time immediately before the temperature was below a specified level, or the difference between the current time and the time immediately before the humidity was below a specified level. Alternatively, the risk value may be the time from the current time to the time when any of the climatic conditions of low atmospheric pressure, low temperature, or low humidity is expected to continue.

[0061] While a method for determining the risk of headache based on the current atmospheric pressure has been described in detail, a method for determining future risk simply involves predicting future atmospheric pressure. When predicting atmospheric pressure, the gradient of recent atmospheric pressure change can be used to predict future atmospheric pressure values ​​P'. Using P' instead of the aforementioned atmospheric pressure value P allows for calculation of future risk values. A method for predicting longer-term atmospheric pressure values ​​is to use a regression model, as in the case of the biosensor 10. Local atmospheric pressure values ​​may also be predicted based on externally provided weather data.

[0062] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of changes in blood flow and air pressure. B in FIG. 11 indicates blood flow volume or blood flow velocity, and R indicates the risk value calculated from the air pressure value P using the method of formula (1). According to FIG. 11, in the first half of the time period, blood flow increases, raising concerns about vasodilation and the onset of headaches. However, since the air pressure value P is sufficiently high and the risk value R is low, it is unlikely to lead to the actual onset of a headache. On the other hand, in the second half of the time period, the risk value R rises and blood flow also increases, indicating a high risk of headache onset. Notifying the user at the stage when increased blood flow begins to occur can achieve earlier notification.

[0063] 11 may be applied to other environmental sensors 14. Stimuli such as light and sound can worsen headache symptoms. Therefore, when the user is in a highly stimulating environment, such strong stimuli can be presented as a risk factor for headache, and the user can be prompted to take action.

[0064] The environmental sensor 14 may be used alone or in combination with multiple sensors. Risk values ​​can be calculated from the measurement values ​​of multiple sensors and used to determine the risk of headache occurrence. Alternatively, risk values ​​can be calculated from the measurement values ​​of multiple sensors and weighted to calculate a single risk value. Examples of weighting methods include weighted sums and exponentially weighted products. Standardization and normalization may be performed before and after weighting. The risk of headache occurrence can be determined based on a comparison between the risk value and a threshold, a comparison between the rate of change in the risk value and a threshold, the duration of the risk value, and other factors. Furthermore, a vector with a number of dimensions corresponding to the number of headache classifications may be output. Each element of the vector can be treated as a risk value for each headache. In particular, by converting the value of each element into a range from 0 to 1, it can also be treated as a risk rate.

[0065] Thus, even in a situation where the system of the first embodiment may mistakenly determine that the user may have a headache, the use of the environmental sensor 14 can prevent such an error, and the system can present the user with a highly reliable determination result.

[0066] The operation of the headache state analyzer 23a in this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. The headache state analyzer 23a acquires measurement values ​​from the biosensor 10 and the environmental sensor 14 (step S300 in Fig. 12). As in the first and second embodiments, the control unit 12a of the measurement device 1a acquires the measurement values ​​from the biosensor 10 and the environmental sensor 14, and the communication unit 11 transmits the measurement values ​​to the information processing device 2a. The headache state analyzer 23a acquires the measurement values ​​via the communication unit 20 of the information processing device 2a.

[0067] The deviation calculation process (step S301 in FIG. 12) is as described in steps S101 and S201. The headache state analysis unit 23a determines the risk of headache occurrence and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the biosensor 10 (step S302 in FIG. 12). The process in step S302 is the same as the process in steps S202 to S207 in FIG. 9.

[0068] The headache state analysis unit 23a also determines the risk of headache occurrence and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the environmental sensor 14 (step S303 in FIG. 12). For example, the headache state analysis unit 23a determines that there is a possibility of a migraine occurring when the risk value calculated from the atmospheric pressure value exceeds a predetermined risk determination threshold.

[0069] When the headache condition analysis unit 23a obtains a result indicating a possibility of occurrence in both the judgment in step S302 and the judgment in step S303 for the same type of headache, it determines that there is a possibility of occurrence of that type of headache (step S304 in Figure 12).When the headache condition analysis unit 23a obtains conflicting results in the judgment in step S302 and the judgment in step S303 for the same type of headache, it determines that there is no possibility of occurrence of that type of headache.In addition, when the headache condition analysis unit 23a obtains a result indicating a possibility of occurrence in step S302 for a headache type that was not determined in step S303, it determines that there is a possibility of occurrence of that type of headache.

[0070] If the determination in step S304 indicates that there is a possibility of headache occurrence, the notification unit 22 notifies the user of information that there is a risk of headache occurrence and information on the type of headache (step S305 in FIG. 12).

[0071] 10 has been described as an example in which the measurement device 1a is equipped with the environmental sensor 14, but environmental information may also be acquired from an external source via a network. The configuration of FIG. 10 can acquire environmental information in the vicinity of the user, allowing for determination processing that takes the user's situation into account, resulting in more precise analysis.

[0072] On the other hand, a configuration that acquires environmental information via a network allows acquisition of environmental information for a large space, making it suitable for applying the present invention to a large number of people in that space. In such a space, it is expected that there will be little difference in information such as temperature, humidity, and air pressure, and that other information will not differ significantly. Therefore, by receiving environmental information via a network, there is no need to install environmental sensors in the measurement device, which allows for a lighter, smaller, and less expensive measurement device.

[0073] [Third Example] In the first and second examples, the headache state analyzers 23, 23a are provided in the information processing devices 2, 2a. However, as shown in FIG. 13, they may be provided in the measurement device 1b. In this case, the control unit 12b of the measurement device 1b functions as the headache state analyzer 15. When the communication unit 11 of the measurement device 1b obtains a result indicating the possibility of a headache occurring, it transmits information indicating the risk of a headache occurring and information on the type of headache to the information processing device 2b. The notification unit 22 of the information processing device 2b notifies the user of the information received by the communication unit 20.

[0074] Figure 13 shows an example in which a headache condition analysis unit 15 that performs processing equivalent to the headache condition analysis unit 23a of the second embodiment is provided in the measurement device 1b, but a headache condition analysis unit that performs processing equivalent to the headache condition analysis unit 23 may also be provided in the measurement device 1 of the first embodiment.

[0075] [Fourth Example] In the first to third examples, the notification unit 22 is provided in the information processing devices 2, 2a, and 2b, but it may be provided in the measurement device 1c as shown in Fig. 14. In this case, the notification unit 16 of the measurement device 1c notifies the user of information by voice or vibration.

[0076] 14 shows an example in which the notification unit 16 is added to the measurement device 1b of the third embodiment, but it may also be added to the measurement devices 1, 1a of the first and second embodiments. When the notification unit 16 is provided in the measurement device 1, 1a, the communication unit 20 of the information processing device 2, 2a can transmit information indicating a risk of headache occurrence and information on the type of headache to the measurement device 1, 1a when a result indicating a possibility of headache occurrence is obtained.

[0077] In the first to fourth embodiments, the measurement device may be provided with an input unit that allows the user to record whether or not a headache actually occurs. By providing feedback to the headache state analysis units 15, 23, and 23a based on information input by the measurement device and the user, it is expected that the accuracy of determining the risk of headache occurrence can be improved. The input information may be incorporated into machine learning as a data set, or thresholds may be fine-tuned based on the input information to accommodate individual differences.

[0078] [Fifth Example] In the first to fourth examples, the measurement device 1d may be provided with a biostimulation unit 17 for reducing the risk of headache occurrence, as shown in Fig. 15. When a result indicating the possibility of headache occurrence is obtained, by implementing measures according to the type of headache, it becomes possible to prevent symptoms from worsening due to incorrect measures and to appropriately alleviate the symptoms.

[0079] The biostimulation unit 17 may provide the user with cooling, heating, muscle stimulation, massage, or other treatments, but other treatments may also be used. Cooling and compression are particularly effective for migraines and headaches caused by alcohol consumption, when blood vessels are dilated. A Peltier element or other device may be used to provide the biostimulation unit 17 with a cooling function. Naturally, other thermoelectric elements may also be used. Compression and massage functions for the biostimulation unit 17 may be provided using a structure such as an ear cuff. It is particularly preferable for the biostimulation unit 17 to be configured to clamp the user's ear and massage the ear. Warming is effective for tension headaches. A heating function for the biostimulation unit 17 may be provided using an electric heating wire or thermoelectric element. Electrical stimulation may also be used to loosen muscles and improve blood circulation.

[0080] When treating a user with the biostimulation unit 17, the sensor used to assess the risk of headache onset may be used to confirm the alleviation of the user's condition and control the operation of the biostimulation unit 17. Using a body temperature sensor can prevent overcooling or overheating of the user's body and control the temperature within a comfortable range. Temperature control can be performed by calculating a temperature gradient based on the designated temperature for the biostimulation unit 17, the distance between the biostimulation unit 17 and the body temperature sensor, and the measured value from the body temperature sensor, thereby estimating the temperature over a wider range than the area where the biostimulation unit 17 is attached. Furthermore, using a blood flow sensor can monitor whether blood flow has improved, i.e., returned to normal, as a result of treatment. For example, Figure 16 shows an example in which, when a possible tension-type headache is determined, treatment is implemented, resulting in improved blood flow, and treatment is terminated when blood flow returns to normal.

[0081] 15 shows an example in which the biostimulation unit 17 is added to the measurement device 1b of the third embodiment, but it may also be added to the measurement devices 1, 1a of the first and second embodiments. When the biostimulation unit 17 is provided in the measurement device 1, 1a, the communication unit 20 of the information processing device 2, 2a can transmit information indicating a risk of headache occurrence and information on the type of headache to the measurement device 1, 1a when a result indicating the possibility of headache occurrence is obtained.

[0082] The control units 12, 12a, and 12b of the measuring devices 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d and the control units 21, 21a, and 21b of the information processing devices 2, 2a, and 2b described in the first to fifth embodiments can be realized by a computer equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device, and an interface, and a program that controls these hardware resources. An example configuration of this computer is shown in FIG. 17.

[0083] The computer includes a CPU 300, a storage device 301, and an interface device (I / F) 302. In the case of the measurement devices 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, the biosensor 10, the communication unit 11, the environmental sensor 14, the notification unit 16, the biostimulation unit 17, etc. are connected to the I / F 302. In the case of the information processing devices 2, 2a, and 2b, the communication unit 20, the notification unit 22, etc. are connected to the I / F 302.

[0084] In the above-described computers, the health monitoring program for implementing the health monitoring method of the present invention is provided in a state recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or memory card. The CPU 300 of each device reads the program from the recording medium, writes it to the storage device 301, and executes the processes described in the first to fifth embodiments in accordance with the program stored in the storage device 301. The program can also be provided over a network.

[0085] Some or all of the above embodiments can be described as, but are not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0086] (Supplementary Note 1) The health status monitoring system of the present invention comprises a biosensor configured to measure a physiological indicator of a user, a headache condition analysis unit configured to determine the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the biosensor, and a notification unit configured to notify the user of the determination result when the headache condition analysis unit determines that there is a possibility of a headache occurring.

[0087] (Appendix 2) The health status monitoring system described in Appendix 1 further includes an environmental sensor configured to measure the environment surrounding the user, and the headache status analysis unit determines the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the environmental sensor in addition to the measurement values ​​from the biosensor.

[0088] (Appendix 3) The health status monitoring method of the present invention includes a first step of measuring a physiological indicator of a user, a second step of determining the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the biosensor, and a third step of notifying the user of the determination result if the second step results in a possibility of developing a headache.

[0089] (Supplementary Note 4) The health monitoring program of the present invention causes a computer to execute each step described in Supplementary Note 3.

[0090] (Supplementary Note 5) In the health monitoring system according to Supplementary Note 1, the biosensor includes a blood flow sensor.

[0091] (Supplementary Note 6) In the health monitoring system according to Supplementary Note 1, the biosensor is attached to the head and neck of the user.

[0092] (Supplementary Note 7) The health monitoring system according to Supplementary Note 1 further comprises a biostimulation unit for reducing the risk of headaches.

[0093] (Supplementary Note 8) In the health status monitoring system described in Supplementary Note 1, the headache status analysis unit predicts future measurement values ​​and predicts the user's future risk of developing a headache and the type of headache.

[0094] The present invention can be applied to a technique for determining the risk of developing a headache.

[0095] 1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d...measuring device, 2, 2a, 2b...information processing device, 10...biosensor, 11, 20...communication unit, 12, 12a, 12b, 21, 21a, 21b...control unit, 14...environmental sensor, 16, 22...notification unit, 15, 23, 23a...headache state analysis unit, 17...biostimulation unit.

Claims

1. A health status monitoring system comprising: a biosensor configured to measure a physiological indicator of a user; a headache condition analysis unit configured to determine the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the biosensor; and a notification unit configured to notify the user of the determination result when the headache condition analysis unit determines that there is a possibility of a headache occurring.

2. A health status monitoring system as described in claim 1, further comprising an environmental sensor configured to measure the environment surrounding the user, wherein the headache status analysis unit determines the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measurement values ​​from the environmental sensor in addition to the measurement values ​​from the biosensor.

3. A health status monitoring method comprising: a first step of measuring a user's physiological indicators using a biosensor; a second step of determining the user's risk of developing a headache and the type of headache based on the measured values ​​from the biosensor; and a third step of notifying the user of the determination result if the second step indicates that a headache may occur.

4. A health condition monitoring program that causes a computer to execute each step of claim 3.

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