Radial artery pulse wave measurement by photoplethysmograpy and compound pulse wave decomposition

Cardiovascular diseases are the world's largest killers, claiming 17.1 million lives a year (WHO 2009). Most countries face high and increasing rates of cardiovascular disease. High arterial stiffness is a symptom and increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Arteries stiffen normally as a consequence of age, but also because of arteriosclerosis. Age related stiffness occurs when the elastic fibers within the arterial walls begin to weaken due to age, but diseases as arteriosclerosis accelerate this process.