Whole-body computed tomography, or CT scans, have become a popular way to view one’s innards to see if any diseases lurk. Yet medical professionals are expressing concern that the scans could cause problems as well.
A special report in the April issue of Men’s Health discusses the pros and cons of the scans, including that they can expose you to “the same level of radiation that’s been measured in some atomic-bomb survivors who were as close as 1 1/2 miles to Hiroshima or Nagasaki.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the American College of Radiology and the American Heart Association all are against elective scans, saying they have no proven benefit. Some drawbacks are false negatives, where the scan misses something, and false positives, where the scan shows a problem that really doesn’t exist.
Although CT scans can be warranted when patients are referred by their physicians, those considering elective scans should weigh the risks. Judy Illes, a neuroethicist at Stanford University, suggests guidelines for whole-body scans that would help to determine who should get them based on health history as well as the distribution of mandatory fact sheets that clearly spell out the dangers and rewards of scanning.
Tooth self-help
If your teeth hurt or are suddenly damaged, there are ways to limit discomfort until you get to the dentist, reports a story in the April Cooking Light magazine. Dr. Thomas A. Howley Jr., president of the Academy of General Dentistry, suggests the following:
Toothache. Rinse with warm, salty water, rub the sore area with numbing clove oil (found in health food stores) and stick sugar-free gum over it to minimize contact with foods.
Lost filling. Rinse with warm, salty water.
Loose crown. Form a paste by mixing cornstarch and Vaseline and stick it back in place. Gum works, too, but see the dentist within a day.
Bleeding gums. Squeeze a wet tea bag until just damp, then press it onto the bleeding area for about 20 minutes.
Hormones, asthma
Hormone-replacement therapy may be linked to asthma in women over age 50, notes a study reported in the April issue of HealthNews. Although women’s asthma rates are three times higher than men’s from age 20 to menopause, the rates usually drop at menopause.
But with more women taking hormone-replacement therapy during that time of their lives, asthma is spiking, notes a study from the Archives of Internal Medicine. Scientists believe that estrogen causes mast cells to multiply and become sensitized. Mast cells are what trigger allergic reactions in asthmatics, leading to airway constriction. In addition, estrogen and estrogen plus progestin increase levels of C-reactive protein, an inflammation marker, and asthma is an inflammatory disease.
The researchers found that within four years of discontinuing the therapy, the rate of asthma diagnosis dropped to the level of postmenopausal women who didn’t use hormones.
Natural healing
Don’t immediately reach for the medicine cabinet when something hurts. You may be able to fix the problem more naturally, says a story in the April issue of Self. For a tension headache, hold a cold compress to your forehead or tie a scarf snugly around your head for 15 minutes to tame throbbing blood vessels.
When the problem is irritable bowel syndrome, try upping your water intake and eating fiber-rich foods in six small meals instead of three large ones. Meditation and massage can help too.
Alleviate mild depression through daily aerobic exercise and some talk time with friends to share your feelings. For a pulled muscle, ice it for 20 minutes at a time up to eight times a day. Also, massage the injured area to lengthen contracted muscle fibers.
