CENTRA IMAGING

Radiation

Radiation is the transmission of energy as particles or waves. It is a threat to human health as the cells in our body (made of atoms as all common matter is) can be affected by this energy. Cells reproduce according to their internal genetic DNA code. Radiation can sometimes randomly alter this code, causing the cells to reproduce an abnormal version of themselves. Uncontrollable reproduction of abnormal cells is cancer.

The risk of radiation exposure tends to be slightly exaggerated.  Cells can usually repair themselves after a moderate dose of radiation. Higher radiation doses can kill cells, which is not a long term threat, but sometimes calls become abnormal, reproduce these abnormalities, and this is cancer.

Ryde X Ray

X-ray and CT scans expose patients to some radiation, but the amount is relatively low. We are exposed to an average of about 3.1 mSv of radiation over the course of a year. A dental X-ray increases this by 0.005mSv, about an extra day’s exposure. A chest X-ray is 0.1mSv, still much less our usual yearly exposure. The most extreme case is a large CT scan, which give over a normal year’s exposure in one treatment.

Ryde Radiology

CT scans consist of a large number of X-rays, each a small slice of a part of the human anatomy. Its multiple images provide much more detail than isolated X-rays. It sometime used an internal dye to increase contrast in the image. CT scans do expose individuals to more radiation that individual X-rays, but is not too different to the background radiation experienced over year. The benefits to a patient who is already suspected of having a serious aliment far outweighs any potential risks.

Ryde Ultrasound

Ultrasound and Magnetic resonant imaging are radiation based technologies, so they appear as safe as any domestic electrical equipment.

Ryde medical Imaging

Family history of any type of cancer is a fair indication of potential problems. Smoking, unprotected Sun exposure and poor diet are also larger factors. Radiation treatments are small factors by comparison, and only used when the individual already has a significant medical problem. Medical imaging is thought influence cancer risk by less than one-half of a per cent. The benefits of the medical imaging outweigh the small increase in risk.