Illustration of a pulse waveform transforming into a healthy heart, symbolizing arterial health.

Decoding Your Heartbeat: How Tech Can Predict Arterial Stiffness

Jordan Keane in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"A new way to use your pulse to understand heart health and prevent cardiovascular diseases."

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality, often stemming from arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness, the hardening of the arteries, contributes to conditions like atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. Early detection is crucial, leading researchers to explore innovative, non-invasive techniques for assessment. A promising method involves analyzing the contour of the Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal using its second derivative (SDPPG).

The traditional method to measure stiffness is the arterial Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), which assesses the speed at which the pressure pulse travels through the arterial tree. While PWV is correlated with age, arteriosclerosis, and blood pressure, a novel approach focuses on analyzing the PPG signal, which can be obtained non-invasively through digital volume pulse analysis. This method is simple, cost-effective, and operator-independent, making it suitable for widespread clinical use.

This article delves into how analyzing PPG signals through SDPPG can provide valuable insights into arterial stiffness. We'll explore how specific parameters derived from the SDPPG waveform, such as PPG peak latency (PPL), PPG notch latency (PNL), and PPG notch relative amplitude (PNRA) can be used to predict arterial stiffness and what these measurements mean for your heart health.

PPG Analysis: Unlocking the Secrets of Your Pulse

Illustration of a pulse waveform transforming into a healthy heart, symbolizing arterial health.

The PPG signal, easily captured by measuring light absorption across the finger, contains a wealth of information about the cardiovascular system. The pulsatile component of the PPG signal reflects the changes in blood volume with each heartbeat. By analyzing the shape of this waveform and, in particular, the dicrotic notch (a characteristic dip between the systolic and diastolic peaks), clinicians can gain insights into the health of the arteries.

The second derivative of the PPG signal (SDPPG) enhances the visibility of key features, allowing for more accurate measurements. Researchers have identified several parameters within the SDPPG waveform that correlate with arterial stiffness. These include:

PPL (PPG peak latency): The time it takes to reach the peak of the PPG signal.
PNL (PPG notch latency): The time it takes to reach the dicrotic notch.
PNRA (PPG notch relative amplitude): The amplitude of the dicrotic notch relative to the overall PPG signal amplitude.
PTNL (peak to notch latency): The time difference between the peak of the PPG signal and the dicrotic notch.
NI (Notch Index): A calculated index based on the notch characteristics.

Studies have shown that these parameters are interconnected and reflect the mechanical properties of the arteries. For instance, smaller values of PNL, PTNL, and NI often indicate stiffer arteries. Furthermore, parameters like PNRA and PNL provide insights into pulse wave velocity, a key indicator of arterial stiffness. Analyzing these SDPPG-derived parameters offers a non-invasive way to assess arterial health and predict cardiovascular risk.

The Future of Heart Health: Personalized Insights from Your Pulse

The analysis of PPG signals through SDPPG represents a significant step forward in non-invasive cardiovascular assessment. By extracting key parameters from the pulse waveform, clinicians can gain a more comprehensive understanding of arterial stiffness and identify individuals at risk of cardiovascular diseases.

While promising, this technology is still evolving. Further research is needed to validate these findings in larger and more diverse populations. However, the potential for personalized heart health insights from a simple pulse measurement is undeniable.

As technology advances, expect to see more sophisticated wearable devices that can continuously monitor your PPG signal and provide real-time feedback on your arterial health. This could empower individuals to take proactive steps to improve their cardiovascular well-being and reduce their risk of heart disease.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.17485/ijst/2017/v10i12/104111, Alternate LINK

Title: Predicting Arterial Stiffness From Physiological Characteristics Of Photoplethysmography Signals Quantified Through Second Derivative

Subject: Multidisciplinary

Journal: Indian Journal of Science and Technology

Publisher: Indian Society for Education and Environment

Authors: S. Mohanalakshmi, S. Mohanalakshmi, A. Sivasubramanian, A. Swarnalatha

Published: 2017-05-11

Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is arterial stiffness, and why is it a problem?

Arterial stiffness refers to the hardening and reduced elasticity of the arteries. This condition is a significant contributor to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. When the arteries become stiff, they are less able to expand and contract, which can lead to increased blood pressure and strain on the heart. This can result in a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Early detection of arterial stiffness is critical for preventing and managing cardiovascular diseases.

How does the Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal relate to heart health?

The Photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal is a non-invasive method of assessing cardiovascular health by measuring light absorption across the finger. This signal provides information about changes in blood volume with each heartbeat. By analyzing the shape of the PPG waveform, particularly the dicrotic notch, valuable insights into arterial health can be obtained. The analysis of the PPG signal through SDPPG (second derivative of the Photoplethysmogram) enhances the visibility of key features, allowing for more accurate measurements of parameters that correlate with arterial stiffness.

What are SDPPG parameters, and what do they tell us about our arteries?

SDPPG parameters, such as PPG peak latency (PPL), PPG notch latency (PNL), and PPG notch relative amplitude (PNRA), are measurements derived from the second derivative of the PPG waveform. PPL is the time it takes to reach the peak of the PPG signal, PNL measures the time to the dicrotic notch, and PNRA indicates the amplitude of the dicrotic notch relative to the overall signal. Smaller values of PNL, PTNL, and NI (Notch Index) often indicate stiffer arteries. Analyzing these parameters provides a non-invasive way to assess arterial health and predict cardiovascular risk. These parameters reflect the mechanical properties of the arteries and offer insights into pulse wave velocity, a key indicator of arterial stiffness.

What is Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), and how does it relate to the new method of PPG analysis?

Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) is a traditional method to measure arterial stiffness by assessing the speed at which the pressure pulse travels through the arterial tree. While PWV is correlated with age, arteriosclerosis, and blood pressure, the analysis of the SDPPG offers a novel approach. This method is simple, cost-effective, and operator-independent, making it suitable for widespread clinical use. PWV gives a general measure of arterial stiffness, while SDPPG provides detailed insights into the parameters like PPL, PNL, and PNRA.

Why is the analysis of PPG signals through SDPPG important for heart health?

The significance lies in its potential for early detection and non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness, a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. By analyzing parameters from the SDPPG waveform, clinicians can gain a better understanding of arterial health and identify individuals at risk. This allows for timely interventions, such as lifestyle modifications and medical treatments, to prevent the progression of cardiovascular diseases. This approach is simpler, cost-effective, and doesn't require a skilled operator, making it suitable for wider clinical use and population screening. The use of SDPPG represents a significant advancement in proactive heart health management, providing a way to predict future cardiovascular problems.