By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Breath Tests Could Reveal Clues About Cancer, Heart Failure, Diabetes
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Devices > Breath Tests Could Reveal Clues About Cancer, Heart Failure, Diabetes
DiagnosticsMedical DevicesMedical InnovationsTechnology

Breath Tests Could Reveal Clues About Cancer, Heart Failure, Diabetes

Deanna Pogorelc
Deanna Pogorelc
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

diagnostic breath testsThe breathalyzer test isn’t just for drunk drivers. In medicine, breath tests are used to screen for h. pylori, lactose intolerance and whether asthma medications are working, to name a few.

diagnostic breath testsThe breathalyzer test isn’t just for drunk drivers. In medicine, breath tests are used to screen for h. pylori, lactose intolerance and whether asthma medications are working, to name a few.

Because the breath contains over a thousand compounds at trace levels, it’s also become an appealing target for non-invasive tests that would help doctors detect and diagnose disease.

There are some barriers to breath-based biomarkers, namely the need for expensive technology used to analyze the presence and concentration of those chemicals. While much of the following research is early, it sheds light on the possibilities being explored for new non-invasive diagnostics.

More Read

Why Telemarketing for the Medical Device Industry Deserves Ridicule
New Resources That Will Help Speed Diagnosis of Rare Diseases
The Differences Between Good and Bad Health IT
The Division of Robotic Surgery at Sinai Hospital is an Epicenter of Quality Care
Touch-Sensitive Artificial Limbs on the Horizon For Amputees: A New Age of “Smart” Prosthetics?

Cancer

Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic recently presented research on a breath biomarker for lung cancer. A test they’re developing uses a chemical sensor called a colorimetric sensor array that picks up on a unique chemical signature released by cancer cells as tumors grow.

A small clinical trial last year by Italian researchers also suggested that certain exhaled volatile organic compounds may be red flags for colon cancer.

Heart failure

Cleveland Clinic researchers have also identified VOCs that correlate with the presence of cardiovascular disease. In a study published earlier this year in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, they collected breath samples from 77 patients and used mass spectrometry to look for those compounds. The researchers reported that the technique identified all of the patients who experienced heart failure. The question is — would it be able to do so early enough to make a difference in outcomes?

Diabetes

A few different groups are working on detecting a chemical called acetone in the breath that increases when the body is deficient of glucose. A team at the University of Pittsburgh was working this summer on prototyping a sensor. Another group in Canada is putting together a semiconductor sensor. Oxford Medical Diagnostics has tested methods of measuring acetone through the breath but has not released any news recently.

P.S. Did you know there’s even an International Association for Breath Research?

[Image credit: Flickr user Judean Peoples Front]

TAGGED:breath tests
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

a woman walking on the hallway
6 Easy Healthcare Ways to Sit Less and Move More Every Day
Health
September 9, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Healthcare at a Crossroads: Why Leadership Matters More Than Ever
Global Healthcare
September 9, 2025
travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025

You Might also Like

Artificial IntelligenceeHealthTechnology

The Impact of Big Data In Healthcare Analytics Career

August 6, 2018
EarlySense
Medical DevicesTechnology

EarlySense Makes Touch-less Vital Sign Monitoring a Reality: Interview

October 27, 2013
apple siri
eHealthMedical InnovationsSocial MediaTechnology

Siri, Marry Me! and Other Tales from the Technology Frontier

November 6, 2014

Left to Our Own Devices

April 14, 2011
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?