For the most part, these viruses are only diagnosed when people have started exhibiting symptoms and are already seriously ill. Although there are no treatments available for many of the most virulent strains of these diseases, early detection can sometimes make a difference to how well a patient ultimately recovers.
For people who are worried about detecting respiratory infections as early as possible, or for those who have asthma or struggle with allergies and need to detect signs of impaired breathing on a regular basis, a new app designed by researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland might be just what they’ve been waiting for.
The researchers have developed a smartphone application which uses the phone’s sensors and measurement technology to collect and analyze respiratory signals, warning the user when they are suffering from some type of impairment.
Lung function testing at your fingertips
As reported by Medical Magazine, the application uses artificial intelligence to analyze the user’s breathing patterns:
In a measurement event, chest movements reveal how heavy your breathing is and whether the problem is in the upper or lower respiratory tract. This information is important for targeting treatment.
According to Tapio Seppänen, Professor of Medical Technology at the University of Oulu, the respiratory signal analysis is based on signal measurement using artificial intelligence. In other words, the program has been trained using mathematical models to find abnormal signal forms that indicate impaired breathing.
Professor Seppänen and his team have been studying respiratory wave signals since the 1990s, and they developed the app in co-operation with Professor Olli-Pekka Alho, and researchers, Tiina Seppänen and Niina Palmu, all of whom are also all affiliated with the University of Oulu.
The respiratory test application is advised for use as a measurement of how well a course of medication is working or for remote monitoring in asthma and allergy patients. Thus far, patient tests have shown great promise, but clinical trials are still underway.
Build immunity to fight disease
For the most part, our immune systems can be relied upon to do their job: wage war on disease. However, in young children, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, the ability of the immune system to do its job can be compromised.
And with the hectic pace of modern life, the depleted quality of the food we eat, and the stress that may of us endure on a daily basis, it’s a good idea for all of us to consider ways to improve our immunity before a serious illness like the latest coronavirus strikes close to home.
In a previous article, Natural News recommended the following ways to boost immunity naturally:
- Increase consumption of iron-rich foods like organic, grass-fed beef, poultry, seafood, nuts, seeds and dried fruits. It is better to avoid non-food sources of iron, however, as these can increase risk of heart disease.
- Eat more foods rich in vitamin C, which boosts production of cells crucial to the regulation of the immune response, fights inflammation, supports antibacterial activity, and prevents free radical damage. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, dark leafy greens, papaya, snap peas and berries.
- Add garlic to your meals. Studies have found that people who supplement their diet with garlic suffer from significantly fewer colds than those who do not.
- Consume more ginger to help the body ward off infection.
For more tips and immune-boosting secrets, be sure to visit ImmuneSystem.news.
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