Smartphones can already detect anemia! Just take a picture

Scientists from a University in the USA, thanks to the artificial intelligence algorithms available in mobile phones, have created a new method of diagnosing anemia based on the analysis of photographs of ... our eyelids. Smartphones can already detect anemia.

One of the symptoms of anemia, which affects about 25 percent. people in the world, there is a change in the color of the lower eyelid. It tends to be blood red in healthy people, while in patients with anemia (low levels of hemoglobin in the blood) or iron deficiency it is most likely to have a pale pink to yellow tinge.

A team of American scientists described the operation of an innovative application that, using artificial intelligence algorithms, is able to perform a detailed analysis of photos from smartphones and, thanks to them, detect anemia with an efficiency of 72.6%.

Take a selfie and see if you are anemic

Although this method is less precise than traditional blood laboratory tests, it can be extremely helpful for people who are completely unaware that they suffer from anemia. Abnormalities detected by smartphone photos may be the first signal to start treating the disease and perform screening tests.

According to scientists, the new way of diagnosing anemia may be indicated especially in the case of children and adolescents, the elderly, as well as chronically ill patients.

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The anemia diagnosis app reaches over 72 percent. effectiveness

So far, the innovative application has been tested on 142 patients from Rhode Island Hospital in the US. The collected data was compared with photos of the eyelids of 202 people diagnosed with anemia, and it was shown that the innovative application for recognizing anemia works in over 72 percent. cases. Researchers have yet to disclose when their invention will be commercially available.

What are the most common symptoms of anemia? What is worth paying attention to?

Yellowing of the skin and discoloration of the lower eyelid

In people with anemia, erythrocytes have a shorter life span, and the breakdown products cause yellowing through the accumulation of bilirubin. As a result, the skin may have a slightly different shade than in completely healthy people, and the color of the lower eyelid becomes slightly paler or yellowed.

Strong fatigue

Anemia causes a drop in energy and makes us tire much easier.

The feeling that we are still cold

Anemic people often complain that they are cold, although the air temperature does not indicate this at all.

Dizziness, distraction

Anemia can make it harder for us to concentrate on the tasks at hand. We can also suffer from frequent dizziness.

Shallow breathing

Heart palpitations