Pulse wave velocity is an innovative metric used by the medical community to assess cardiovascular health.

Each time your heart beats, it induces a wave along the aorta and the arterial tree. This wave leads to blood-volume changes in the vessels that expand and contract in response to these changes. Pulse wave velocity is the propagation speed of this wave along the arteries. This measurement provides crucial insight into the elasticity of your arteries. Think of it like this: healthy arteries are like flexible rubber bands, easily expanding and contracting with each heartbeat, resulting in a low PWV. Stiff arteries, on the other hand, are more like rigid pipes, leading to a higher PWV. Keeping an eye on your PWV with Withings helps you monitor your arterial health, as lower numbers generally indicate better cardiovascular health and a reduced risk of conditions like high blood pressure. This speed increases when arteries become too rigid, for example as a result of lipid infiltration into their walls. This increase in pulse wave velocity reflects premature aging of the arteries.

Pulse wave velocity is usually measured between the carotid and the femoral artery using applanation tonometry. However, this technique requires an advanced equipment and a well-trained operator.