What harm does enhanced CT do to the human body

We are all familiar with CT. It is usually done for better disease examination. Although there is some radiation, the radiation is relatively small. Generally, it can be done as long as the woman is not pregnant for medical reasons. Now with the development of technology, enhanced CT has appeared. Enhanced CT mainly involves the injection of iodine contrast agent on the basis of CT. Enhanced CT is generally recommended because normal CT cannot see clearly. Normal people are unlikely to be allergic to it, but it may cause allergies in weak people. What harm does enhanced CT do to the human body?

The dose and intensity of ionizing radiation (i.e. X-rays) of enhanced CT are very high! It is very harmful to the human body.

Research by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has confirmed that radiation-induced cancer and hereditary diseases are dose-linear and have no threshold, which means that the more exposure, the greater the likelihood of developing fatal cancer and hereditary diseases. Moreover, the younger you are, the more sensitive you are to X-rays, and the greater the radiation damage caused! Therefore, infants and children should avoid exposure to X-rays as much as possible, and especially avoid CT examinations, which are one of the medical X-ray examinations with the highest dose and radiation. Try not to do it! At present, the abuse of CT examination is common. Patients undergo CT examinations as soon as they have the slightest problem. Some people even have several examinations in a month. This not only causes economic waste, but also causes radiation damage. There is a risk of cancer.

Therefore, both medical staff and the general public should learn some knowledge about radiation protection. The indications for X-ray examinations should be strictly followed, and non-radiation methods (such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, etc.) should be used if possible. Special attention should be paid to women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and infants and young children to avoid X-ray examinations as much as possible. Take preventive measures to reduce the harm caused by radiation to humans

The effects of X-ray radiation on the fetus can easily cause embryonic disability, fetal malformations, brain malformations, and an increased risk of childhood cancer. However, exposure to X-rays in the early stages of pregnancy can easily cause serious harm, so it is recommended that you do an MRI if possible; because too many CT scans will increase the incidence of cancer. CT examination is actually an X-ray examination. The radiation of CT is ionizing radiation. Excessive ionizing radiation can cause cancer to the human body. Ionizing radiation can damage the structure of DNA in human cells. Some damaged DNA can be repaired, but DNA that is damaged too much or too severely cannot be repaired. In this way, genes will change, cancer cells will be produced, and cancer will occur.

The annual radiation dose from the natural environment to an individual is about 3mSv (millisievert), while the radiation dose from an abdominal, spine or whole-body CT scan is about 10mSv, which is the total radiation dose from the natural environment for three years; a chest CT scan is equivalent to the radiation dose a person receives in more than two years, and the radiation dose from head and heart CT scans is smaller, at 2mSv each time. If CT examinations are repeated many times, the radiation dose and corresponding hazards can accumulate, and the incidence of cancer may increase.