Health

Is drinking cold water bad for you?

Published

10 months ago

September 13, 2025

Is drinking cold water bad for you?

Cold water is generally not bad for you and even has positive benefits for healthy individuals. It is popular as 79% of people in one survey stated they prefer to drink cold water, especially on hot days or after exercise for its feeling of refreshment. Several studies have suggested that it helps boost metabolism rates, assist weight loss, and helps boost low blood pressure.

Cold water does have downsides for those with certain medical conditions that should be taken into consideration. It can lead to weaker immunity for those who already have weaker immune systems and can exacerbate ‘cold stress’ for those in emergency situations struggling to keep their core body temperature up. It can narrow blood vessels, increasing risks for those who suffer from high blood pressure. In some health conditions such as achalasia and sensitivity of teeth, drinking cold water can cause sharp discomfort.

Despite the complications of drinking cold water, societal and cultural values, as well as personal preference, play a big part. Julie Metos who serves as Associate Dean at the College of Health of the University of Utah said that “cold water always tastes better to people.” Dr. Karel Talavera of KU Leuven in Belgium found that cold temperature masks bad tastes which may make drinking cold water more appealing at times.

What Are the Risks and Disadvantages of Drinking Cold Water?

The risks and disadvantages of drinking cold water include thickening of mucus causing respiratory difficulty, headaches, tooth sensitivity, slowing gastric emptying, aggravating achalasia (a rare disease making it difficult for food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach), and causing ‘cold stress’. These are generally rare effects, though tooth sensitivity and headaches are more common for those with related pre-existing conditions.

READ ALSO:

The following research has confirmed risks of drinking cold water in certain circumstances.

Nasal mucus thickening. A 1978 study in the journal CHEST published by the American College of Chest Physicians found that nasal mucus thickened after drinking cold water and persisted for more than half an hour.
Headaches. A 2001 study by P. Mattson of the Department of Neuroscience at the University Hospital in Uppsala Sweden, found that 7.6% of women had a headache after drinking 150ml of ice-cold water.
Tooth sensitivity. US experts from the McCarl Dental Group in Maryland state that “ some patients report feeling a stabbing pain. Other people experience a dull, lingering discomfort after exposure to hot or cold beverages.”
Gastric motility. A 2020 study at Japan’s Graduate School of Sport Sciences at Waseda University found that consuming water at 2°C (35.6°F) after 10 minutes reduced gastric contractions to approximately 6 times every 3 minutes whereas those drinking 60°C (140°F) experienced just under 10 contractions every 3 minutes.
Achalasia (difficulty passing food from esophagus to stomach). Yutang Ren and colleagues at China’s Peking Union Medical College Hospital found that drinking cold water of 2°C (35.6°F) could exacerbate achalasia symptoms such as difficulty swallowing and chest pains.
Problems during heat exhaustion. Dr. David Schultz of Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana says that drinking cold water during heat exhaustion can activate the vagus nerves (in the esophagus and stomach which control involuntary activity) resulting in a loss of consciousness.
Immune system weakening. According to Dr. Pallavi Suyog Uttekar, MD, a clinician in human physiology, drinking cold water can lead to ‘cold stress’ (the inability of the body to warm itself) which among other symptoms can cause narrowing of blood vessels in the throat. While this would likely only occur in extreme circumstances where the body is already struggling to warm itself, if it does occur it can reduce the body’s ability to remove viruses and bacteria, and reduce white blood cells temporarily.

Which Body Parts Can Be Affected by Cold Water?

Drinking cold water can affect the teeth, heart, blood pressure, throat and respiratory system, brain and nervous system, stomach and digestive system, and immune system.

READ ALSO:

The following research has shown how these body parts are affected by drinking cold water.

Teeth. Dr. Robert H. DeWitt is a practicing dentist in the Washington Metropolitan Area who says that tooth sensitivity to cold water occurs due to pre-existing conditions from aggressive brushing, gum disease, excessive plaque, or cracked teeth which expose sensitive nerves by removing the tooth’s protective layer.
Heart. Research at the National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine in Taiwan found that drinking 250ml of ice water significantly lowered heart rates compared to room temperature water. Similarly, a study at Switzerland’s University of Fribourg Department of Medicine found that ingestion of cold water increased energy expenditure over 90 min by 2.9% and reduced the workload to the heart by approximately 4.8 beats per minute.
Blood pressure. A 2013 study from the Department of Cardiology at China’s Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University found that drinking 4°C (39.2°F) water led to a rise in blood pressure for an average of 22 minutes in healthy students. Satoshi Kubota of the School of Health Sciences at Japan’s International University of Health and Welfare found that drinking cold water constricts blood vessels, preventing blood from going to the extremities and raising blood pressure.
Throat and respiratory system. As per K Saketkhoo et al, drinking water can lead to thicker mucus resulting in respiratory distress
Throat and respiratory system. A 2012 study by the Chinese Academy of Medical Science found that drinking cold water caused difficulty swallowing, chest pain, achalasia, and other esophageal motility disorders.
Brain and nervous system. Dr. P. Mattson at the University Hospital in Uppsala Sweden found that drinking cold water can lead to sudden headaches. And Dr. David Schultz of Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana warns that if one is suffering from heat exhaustion, ice-cold water can trigger a nervous system response that leads to loss of consciousness.
Stomach and digestive system. Studies have shown that it is possible for cold water to exacerbate the symptoms of achalasia and cause problems with swallowing, as well as exacerbate problems with moving food out of the stomach into the digestive tract. These are not common issues, but those already having problems with such symptoms may find them exacerbated.
Immune system. In extreme circumstances where a person is already subjected to very cold and wet conditions, drinking cold water can lead to ‘cold stress’ or the inability of the body to warm itself. This in turn can cause a reduction in the body’s immune responses and temporarily lower white blood cell counts.

Why Do My Teeth Hurt When I Drink Cold Water?

Your teeth hurt when you drink cold water if they are already sensitive as a result of other dental problems that have left the nerves exposed. Experts at Crest, a Procter and Gamble company that specializes in dental products, explain that the loss of protective enamel on the teeth causes the canals that lead to nerves to be exposed. These canals are known as dentinal tubules, and when they move due to cold water, they touch the nerves resulting in a dull pain or stabbing feeling.

READ ALSO:

Robert H. DeWitt, a dentist in Washington DC, says that tooth sensitivity occurs due to aggressive brushing, grinding teeth in your sleep, certain tooth-whitening toothpastes which have abrasive chemicals, gum disease, build-up of bacterial plaque, cracked teeth, or the decay of old fillings. Bacteria in the mouth generates acid and over time breaks down the protective enamel coating of teeth, resulting in sensitivity. Cold water then triggers the nerves and causes pain.

What Are the Benefits of Drinking Cold Water?

The benefits of drinking cold water include a better metabolism rate, boosted weight loss, improved hydration for exercise, and increased alertness. The following research and expert guidance illustrates these points.

Increased metabolism. A 2003 study by Dr. Michael Boschmann and colleagues at Humboldt-University in Berlin found that drinking water at 22°C (71°F) created 30kJ greater energy expenditure than water ingested at 37°C (98.6°F). This is likely because the body had to work harder to warm the water to body temperature, which boosts metabolism. This effect would presumably be greater at colder water temperatures, though the magnitude of the effect is debated with research from a University of Washington paper finding that only eight additional calories will be burnt per cup of cold water.
Boosted weight loss. G Dubnov-Raz and colleagues from the Exercise, Nutrition and Lifestyle Clinic at The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital found that in overweight children, drinking 10 ml/kg of body weight of cold water (4°C/39.2°F) increased resting energy expenditure by 25% for over 40 minutes. Daily consumption of this recommended amount of water for children could result in an energy expenditure equivalent to a weight loss of an additional 1.2 kg per year.
Improved hydration for exercise. In a 2011 paper published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, Saeed Khamnei of the Islamic Azad University in Tabriz, Iran found that cool 16°C (60.8°F) water is optimum for exercising in the heat and maintaining a low core temperature. A similar study in 2013 in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine found the same temperature optimized hydration during exercise by minimizing sweating. And a 2012 study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that drinking cold water significantly delayed increases in body temperature during exercise such that performance in broad jump and time to exhaustion tests improved by approximately 50%.
Increased alertness. According to the Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy based in Arizona, cold water helps your body’s adrenaline production making you feel alert without the side effects that caffeinated beverages have. This is also among the benefits of drinking water generally as a part of improved cognitive function.

Does Drinking Cold Water Help You Lose Weight?

Drinking cold water does help you lose weight because it increases your metabolism, helps you feel more satiated, and improves performance during exercise by keeping your core body temperature down and minimizing sweating.

When asking “does drinking cold water burn calories?”, we can point to the 2003 study at Humboldt-University in Berlin which found that drinking lower temperature water led to a greater expenditure of energy and a better metabolism rate. This is likely because the body had to work harder to warm the water to body temperature, thus increasing calorie burn. The magnitude of calories burned is debated, ranging from a mere eight calories per glass of cold water (i.e., almost no impact for weight loss), up to a sufficient effect to lose as much as 1.2 kg per year.

Drinking water helps you feel satiated such that you reduce your calorie intake. Professor Brenda M. Davy and colleagues at the Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Exercise at Virginia Tech university found that drinking 0.5 liters of water 30 minutes before breakfast made participants feel more full and reduced calories consumed during breakfast by 13%. The plot below shows the change in meal size for each of the participants in the Virginia Tech study after ingesting water.

READ ALSO:

With regards to improvements in exercise performance from drinking cold water, studies in 2011 and 2013 published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine and the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, respectively, showed that cool 16°C (60.8°F) water is optimum for exercise in the heat and maximizes rehydration while minimizing sweat loss. They argue that cooler water acts as a heat sink to reduce core temperature.

Research by the Heat Research Division of the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine found that cool water at 15°C (59°F) during exercise creates a cyclical drinking pattern, so people tend to hydrate effectively which may result in an improved weight loss regimen.

Is Drinking Cold Water Good for High Blood Pressure?

No, drinking cold water is not good for high blood pressure. Research on the effect of cold water on blood pressure is limited, but studies suggest that it leads to a rise in blood pressure by constricting blood vessels.

Satoshi Kubota et al. of the School of Health Sciences at Japan’s International University of Health and Welfare found that drinking cold water constricts blood vessels, which prevents blood from going to the extremities and raises blood pressure. This induces a transient but significant increase in blood pressure as was seen in a 2013 study by Jianyong Ma et al., from the Department of Cardiology at China’s Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. They found that drinking 300ml of 4°C (39.2°F) water led to a rise of 3 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure (the denominator reading) for 22 minutes in healthy students.

Diastolic blood pressure is associated with the risk of cardiac events such as heart disease. This diagram shows the increase in blood pressure that occurred after drinking cold and hot water.

According to a 2010 article in the Journal Hypertension, the Red Cross actually suggests people who have donated blood drink water to raise blood pressure in order to prevent fainting. In the original 2007 study by Bruce Newman et al. of the American Red Cross Blood Services, it is suggested that cold or room temperature water would have an equivalent effect in raising the blood pressure of low blood pressure patients.

Who Should Drink Cold Water?

The people who should drink cold water include athletes, overweight children, people with multiple sclerosis, and hypotension (low blood pressure) patients. Or any healthy person who just enjoys cold, refreshing hydration.

Brooke Schantz, RD who works in sports nutrition says that exercising leads to a rise in body temperature which causes fatigue. Drinking cold water reduces the body’s core temperature, allowing performance to be improved. Experts from the US Army, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Islamic Azad University, and Performance Nutrition in Phoenix, Arizona all have stated that cold water ranging from slush at -1°C to slightly chilled at 16°C is beneficial during exercise, though the optimum temperature is debated.

For overweight children, cold water can create extra energy expenditure in the body to warm it up which may be sufficient for up to 1.2 kg of weight loss per year according to G Dubnov-Raz and colleagues from The Edmond and Lily Safra Children’s Hospital.

This is further supported by a 2003 study on water-induced thermogenesis conducted by researchers at the Medical Faculty of the Charité of Humboldt-University. The study found that drinking water increased metabolic energy expenditure for up to 40 minutes afterward and that this effect was greater if the water was cooler than body temperature. The changes in energy expenditure produced by water intake at each temperature are plotted below for each participant in this study.

READ ALSO:

Georgia K Chaseling and colleagues at the Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, found evidence that cold water ingestion improved exercise tolerance of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Finally, the Red Cross suggests drinking water to raise blood pressure among people who have donated blood to prevent fainting and in hypotensive patients (low blood pressure). This is because it restricts blood vessels and hence leads to an increase in blood pressure.

While it is generally not a problem, for those who wish to be extra careful it may be best to say that babies and the elderly should not drink cold water. This is because their immune systems are weaker and more susceptible to ‘cold stress’ (where the body cannot maintain warmth).

According to India’s Pallavi Suyog Uttekar MD, a board-certified clinician in human physiology, drinking cold water can lead to narrowing of blood vessels in the throat, reduction in the body’s ability to remove viruses and bacteria, and lower the white blood cells temporarily. Drinking cold water is linked with the onset of colds and flu among the babies and elderly. Drinking cold water should be avoided in the case of specific health conditions such as dental sensitivity or achalasia.

How Much Cold Water Should You Drink in a Day?

The amount of cold water you should drink a day is whatever portion of your total daily drinking needs that are not met by water of other temperatures. Total baseline water needs are approximately 3.7 liters per day for men and 2.7 liters per day for women according to a study conducted by the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Recommended water intake for children and young teenagers is lower than for adults, as shown in the chart below, which indicates these amounts in terms of standard beverage cans (330 ml) per day. If you are healthy and not in a place that is very cold, you can drink the entire amount as cold water.

That said, with limited scientific research on the specific topic of how much cold water to drink per day, there are widespread estimates and no strong conclusions. Estimates vary according to the metabolic, dietary, and genetic characteristics of different populations

If one is exercising, water needs are greater and drinking more cold water is advantageous to cool the body down, encourage hydration via feelings of post-exercise refreshment, and reduce sweat. When asking how much water should I drink a day when exercising, a 2013 study in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine is helpful. The study found that 6.4 ml of water per kg of body weight taken at a cool 16°C (60.8°F) was optimal for hydration. For a typical 90 kg man, this implies an additional 0.6 liters after exercising on top of the recommended 3.7 liters per day.

As a daily drinking habit, cold water should be avoided by those with weaker immunity such as babies and the elderly, or certain health conditions such as achalasia, sensitive teeth, and high blood pressure.

Which One Is the Best for the Body, Cold Water or Warm Water?

Neither cold water or warm water is inherently best for the body, but each has advantages and disadvantages depending on the context. Both cold water and warm water have been recommended by medical practitioners in different situations, and with no great difference in hydration benefits for most healthy people, personal preference sufficient to induce proper daily water intake is generally the largest factor.

That said, the benefits and disadvantages of cold versus warm or hot water is summarized as follows. Note that both the negatives and positives of one temperature over the other are largely effects that happen at the extremes, and the choice of temperature for healthy people is generally a non-issue beyond personal preference.

Negatives of warm or hot water. Studies have shown that drinking warm water can lead to inadvertent dehydration by discouraging drinking of sufficient water. This is particularly dangerous during hot weather or vigorous exercise. This is partly cultural as people in many east Asian countries prefer drinking hot water.
Positives of warm or hot water. Charles Patrick Davis, MD, Ph.D., a Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center advises drinking warm water with lemon to protect against kidney stones. Other medical professionals recommend it as helpful against achalasia and say it may help in digestion, circulation, and in the removal of body toxins.
Negatives of cold water. Drinking cold water may weaken the immune system, especially for babies and the elderly. It can cause pain and discomfort for those with achalasia and sensitive teeth. It can exacerbate ‘cold stress’ for those in situations struggling to keep their core body temperature up. And During heat exhaustion, cold water can activate the vagus nerves (in the esophagus and stomach which control involuntary activity) leading to loss of consciousness.
Positives of cold water. Drinking cold water maintains hydration during working out and improves human performance during exercise. It reduces pressure on the heart and is helpful in improving the workout efficiency of patients with multiple sclerosis. According to the Foothills Sports Medicine Physical Therapy based in Arizona, cold water helps your body’s adrenaline production which makes you feel alert without the side effects of caffeinated beverages. It can improve blood pressure in hypotensive patients.

Source: svalbardi.com

Is drinking cold water bad for you?

Health

FG expands emergency healthcare services to 34 states

Published

1 day ago

July 9, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako

FG expands emergency healthcare services to 34 states

The Federal Government (FG) has expanded the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) to 34 states, in a major push to improve emergency healthcare, strengthen intensive and critical care services, and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Nigeria.

The expansion was announced by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, during the opening of the 11th Annual Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Intensive and Critical Care Society of Nigeria (I-CCSN) in Abuja.

Speaking on the conference theme, “Sustainable Financing for Intensive Care in Public Hospitals in Nigeria,” Salako described emergency and intensive care as essential pillars of a resilient healthcare system, saying timely access to quality treatment saves lives, reduces preventable deaths and protects families from the devastating financial impact of critical illnesses.

According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, the minister said the expansion of NEMSAS from its pilot phase in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to 34 states represents one of the Federal Government’s flagship health sector reforms, with efforts already underway to extend the programme to all 36 states and the FCT.

The National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) was established to provide a coordinated national emergency response by ensuring the rapid evacuation and transportation of critically ill or injured patients to appropriate healthcare facilities. The initiative supports victims of road traffic crashes, maternal emergencies, medical complications, disasters and other life-threatening situations that require urgent intervention.

READ ALSO:

Salako said the Tinubu administration considers emergency and critical care a strategic investment in Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that improved emergency response capacity is critical to achieving better health outcomes, strengthening national health security and reducing avoidable deaths.

He observed that delivering quality intensive care requires sustained investments in specialised infrastructure, fully equipped ambulances, intensive care units (ICUs), trauma centres, medical oxygen systems, modern diagnostic equipment, reliable electricity supply and highly trained healthcare professionals.

The minister also expressed concern over Nigeria’s continued dependence on out-of-pocket healthcare spending, warning that many households are forced into financial hardship because of the high cost of emergency treatment and intensive care.

To reduce this burden, he said the Federal Government is expanding health insurance coverage, strengthening sustainable healthcare financing and implementing reforms aimed at making emergency medical services more accessible and affordable.

According to Salako, the government is simultaneously implementing complementary programmes to improve maternal and newborn healthcare, strengthen referral systems and integrate ambulance services with intensive care units, operating theatres, rehabilitation centres and medical oxygen supply networks.

He added that lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted increased investment in medical oxygen infrastructure, with Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants already installed in several federal and state health facilities to improve oxygen availability for critically ill patients.

The minister further disclosed that the government is promoting digital health technologies, telemedicine and tele-critical care services to bridge gaps in access to specialist healthcare, particularly in underserved and rural communities.

Salako emphasised that achieving sustainable emergency healthcare requires stronger collaboration among the Federal Government, state governments, healthcare institutions, professional associations, academic and research institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector.

He also called for greater investment in healthcare workforce development through the training of more intensive care physicians, emergency medicine specialists, nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, anaesthetists, biomedical engineers and other specialised healthcare professionals.

The minister said these reforms align with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and other ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare, emergency medical services and referral systems nationwide.

Earlier, Chairman of the Conference Local Organising Committee, Dr. Harrison Nwogu, said participants would examine the persistent underfunding of intensive care units and explore innovative financing mechanisms, including public-private partnerships (PPPs), expanded health insurance, philanthropic support and diaspora investment.

Chairman of the occasion and Chief Medical Director of Zenith Medical and Kidney Centre, Dr. Olalekan Olutesi, urged wealthy Nigerians and corporate organisations to invest more in the health sector, suggesting tax incentives to encourage greater private-sector participation in healthcare delivery.

Delivering the keynote address, Professor Tamuno-Ojuemi Ogaji advocated a sustainable financing framework that guarantees access to quality intensive care regardless of a patient’s financial status.

He identified inadequate infrastructure, shortages of medical equipment and consumables, unstable electricity supply, limited intensive care beds and insufficient funding as some of the major obstacles affecting critical care delivery in Nigeria.

Also speaking, the Emir of Wase, Dr. Muhammadu Haruna, who represented the Emir of Tula, Dr. Abubakar Buba, described intensive care as a national development issue that affects every Nigerian family.

He said strengthening emergency and critical care services would improve survival rates, reduce preventable deaths and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic and social development.

The Federal Government expressed confidence that the continued expansion of NEMSAS, improved healthcare financing, stronger referral systems and sustained investments in emergency medical infrastructure would significantly improve access to life-saving care and strengthen Nigeria’s overall healthcare system.

FG expands emergency healthcare services to 34 states

Health

Tinubu approves new health technology agency to modernise Nigeria’s healthcare system

Published

2 weeks ago

June 26, 2026

Trends Admin

FG Clears N39.6bn Pension Arrears for Former NITEL, PHCN, Bank Workers

Tinubu approves new health technology agency to modernise Nigeria’s healthcare system

President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO), a landmark initiative aimed at accelerating the digital transformation of Nigeria’s healthcare system through innovation, data-driven decision-making and improved coordination across the health sector.

The Presidency also announced the appointment of Dr. Obi Adigwe, a respected pharmaceutical researcher and health innovation expert, as the pioneer National Coordinator of the newly created office.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the new agency would operate under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

According to the Presidency, the NHTDAO will serve as a central coordinating platform for health technology, digital health systems and data analytics, helping to unify public and private healthcare institutions without taking over the statutory responsibilities of existing agencies.

Rather than replacing institutions already operating within the health sector, the office will strengthen collaboration among federal and state governments, healthcare providers, development partners and regulatory bodies while promoting the adoption of modern digital healthcare solutions nationwide.

The statement explained that the office would harmonise healthcare institutions, establish national interoperability standards and oversee the implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture, which was approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.

READ ALSO:

The initiative is expected to accelerate the deployment of electronic medical records, improve healthcare data management, strengthen disease surveillance systems and support evidence-based policymaking across Nigeria’s health sector.

Government officials believe the new office will also improve emergency response capabilities, facilitate secure information sharing among healthcare institutions and enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in healthcare delivery.

The Presidency said the creation of the agency aligns with President Tinubu’s commitment to building a secure, technology-driven and data-enabled healthcare system capable of delivering quality medical services to Nigerians under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The appointment of Dr. Obi Adigwe is expected to provide strong leadership for the initiative, given his extensive experience in pharmaceutical research, digital health innovation and healthcare policy.

Before his appointment, Adigwe served as Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), where he led several groundbreaking initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and biomedical research capacity.

His achievements include managing a ¥300 million nanotechnology research grant, overseeing an AFREXIMBank-funded project that established Africa’s first Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Training Facility and coordinating the roadmap that secured an €18 million European Union grant to support Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.

Adigwe also gained international recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic after leading the world’s first scientific evaluation that challenged claims surrounding the effectiveness of Madagascar’s Covid Organics herbal preparation.

To ensure effective implementation and policy coordination, the Federal Government has constituted a high-level steering committee to oversee the activities of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office.

The committee will be co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Olaniyi Yusuf.

Its membership also includes the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, the Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy, the heads of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as well as six representatives of State Commissioners of Health from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The steering committee is expected to provide strategic guidance, monitor implementation and ensure that digital health reforms are effectively integrated across the country’s healthcare ecosystem.

The establishment of the NHTDAO complements ongoing reforms under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which seeks to strengthen primary healthcare services, improve access to quality medical care, expand emergency health services and modernise healthcare infrastructure across the country.

Health policy experts say the initiative could significantly transform Nigeria’s healthcare system by improving health data management, promoting innovation, strengthening policy coordination and enabling more efficient healthcare delivery nationwide.

The Presidency expressed confidence that the new office would accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven healthcare ecosystem capable of improving health outcomes for millions of citizens.

Tinubu approves new health technology agency to modernise Nigeria’s healthcare system

Health

AI Smartphone App Detects Eye Cancer with Near-Specialist Accuracy, Study Finds

Published

2 weeks ago

June 25, 2026

Trends Admin

AI Smartphone App Detects Eye Cancer with Near-Specialist Accuracy, Study Finds

A smartphone-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) application has demonstrated the ability to detect cancers on the surface of the eye with near-specialist accuracy, offering hope for faster diagnosis and improved access to care for patients with potentially sight-threatening and life-threatening conditions.

The application, known as Capture-Tumor, uses advanced deep-learning technology to analyze photographs of the eye taken with a smartphone and identify signs of ocular surface malignancies. Researchers say the innovation could transform early cancer detection by enabling users to perform initial screenings from home before being referred to specialist care.

The findings were published in JAMA Ophthalmology following a non-randomized clinical trial led by researchers at Sun Yat-sen University, China, who evaluated the system’s effectiveness in real-world settings.

According to the researchers, the AI model was trained using more than 12 years of specialist ophthalmic images collected by eye care professionals. The system was initially developed using slit-lamp photographs taken in hospitals before being adapted to work with standard smartphone images captured by patients themselves.

The app includes built-in image-quality assessment tools and provides real-time instructions to help users take suitable photographs. Once captured, images are uploaded to a cloud-based platform where the AI analyzes them and flags suspicious lesions that may require specialist review.

The study involved 614 participants aged between four and 87 years, with a median age of 46. Participants were recruited through television campaigns, social media platforms and online hospital portals. Researchers analyzed 805 eye images from 535 participants included in the final assessment.

READ ALSO:

To ensure diagnostic accuracy, images were matched against histopathological findings where available. In cases where tissue diagnosis was not possible, clinical examinations and telemedicine reviews were used to establish final diagnoses.

The primary objective was to determine how effectively the AI system could distinguish between malignant and benign eye surface lesions.

Results showed impressive performance. During controlled testing using specialist clinical images, the model achieved an Area Under the Curve (AUC) score of 0.945, indicating a high level of diagnostic accuracy. When deployed in real-world conditions using smartphone photographs and in-app guidance, performance improved further, reaching an AUC of 0.977.

The system recorded a sensitivity rate of 89.3 percent, meaning it correctly identified most cancer cases, while its specificity reached 95.9 percent, demonstrating a strong ability to rule out non-cancerous conditions.

One of the study’s most significant findings was the app’s ability to identify previously undiagnosed cancers.

The AI platform generated 58 referrals to specialist centers, resulting in the confirmation of 20 malignant cases through histopathological examination. Remarkably, 19 of those cancers had not been previously diagnosed, highlighting the technology’s potential role in detecting disease earlier than traditional referral pathways.

Researchers noted that none of the newly diagnosed patients required removal of the eye or surrounding orbital tissue, suggesting that earlier intervention may have contributed to more favorable treatment outcomes.

The study also found that the app significantly streamlined access to specialist care. Before using the AI system, patients required an average of 3.69 referrals before reaching definitive treatment. Following implementation of the technology, that figure dropped dramatically to just 1.02 referrals, representing a major improvement in efficiency and patient access.

READ ALSO:

Experts believe this could reduce delays that often occur when patients move between multiple healthcare providers before receiving an accurate diagnosis.

The researchers further suggested that widespread adoption of smartphone-based screening could substantially increase the number of eye cancer cases detected and treated at specialist centers. However, they cautioned that these projections require additional validation through larger studies.

An accompanying editorial described Capture-Tumor as a pioneering “closed-loop” healthcare model that combines public awareness, AI-assisted screening, specialist triage and targeted referrals within a single platform.

Experts said the study provides an important proof of concept for using AI and mobile technology to decentralize screening for rare diseases, particularly in regions where access to specialist ophthalmologists remains limited.

Eye surface cancers, collectively known as ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) and related malignancies, can be difficult to diagnose in their early stages because symptoms often resemble less serious eye conditions. Delayed diagnosis can lead to vision impairment, extensive surgery and, in severe cases, cancer spread.

The emergence of smartphone-based AI screening tools could therefore play a critical role in reducing diagnostic delays and improving patient outcomes, especially in low-resource settings where specialist care is scarce.

Despite the promising findings, researchers acknowledged several limitations. Most participants were of Chinese origin, meaning further studies are needed to determine how well the technology performs across diverse ethnic and geographic populations. They also noted that older users may face challenges using smartphone-based screening tools and that the study primarily assessed short-term diagnostic outcomes rather than long-term clinical benefits.

The team emphasized that the application is intended to support—not replace—medical professionals. Any suspicious findings identified by the app would still require confirmation through clinical examination and specialist evaluation.

As healthcare systems increasingly adopt AI-powered diagnostic tools, experts say technologies such as Capture-Tumor could help bridge gaps in access to specialist care, improve early cancer detection and potentially save sight and lives through timely intervention.