The Dangers of X-Rays
X-rays can be hazardous if not managed properly. While useful for medical imaging, excessive exposure poses health risks. Protect yourself by limiting unnecessary X-ray use and following safety guidelines. Stay informed and stay safe.
Radiation and Responsibility: Understanding the Risks
The Impact of Radiation Exposure
Radiation is dangerous, and with great power comes great responsibility. Absorbing one Sievert of radiation increases your lifetime cancer risk by about 8%. That’s a substantial amount, especially considering that a typical X-ray delivers far less. For example, a series of five cervical spine X-rays exposes a patient to about 0.27 mSv (thousandths of a Sievert), a relatively small dose. Good doctors, however, take any amount of radiation seriously and avoid unnecessary X-rays. Radiologists and technicians meticulously adjust X-ray equipment to minimize exposure for both patients and medical staff.
The Risks of Video X-ray
If a standard series of five well-calibrated X-rays involves minimal risk, what about the exposure from hundreds of images? Video X-rays require numerous X-rays to create animation, inherently increasing radiation exposure. The exact amount is uncertain due to many variables, but even the best-case scenario is concerning.
Do You Really Need That “High-Tech” Diagnosis?
Is it worth the risk of increased cancer from an X-ray movie? Shouldn’t most conditions be diagnosed using safer methods? Dynamic MRI, for example, provides comprehensive neck imaging with minimal risks.
While DMX can catch serious issues overlooked by doctors, medical errors are often exaggerated. Missing a major fracture, for instance, would likely result in legal consequences for any radiologist.
Medical imaging, especially for pain like low back pain, is notoriously unreliable. This unreliability is even greater with DMX, which lacks the standardization and expertise found in MRI clinics. Pain is influenced by many invisible factors, making accurate diagnosis challenging.
Though an X-ray movie might occasionally reveal hard-to-diagnose conditions, consider the risks. Radiation exposure remains one of the most significant downsides in medical history. Not all diagnostic procedures are worth the potential harm.
Radiation exposure, even in small doses, must be handled with care. Medical professionals work diligently to minimize risks, but newer technologies like video X-rays present unknown dangers that warrant caution and further research. These potential long-term health impacts are a sobering reminder of the responsibility that comes with using powerful medical tools.
Summary:
Digital Motion X-ray (DMX): What You Need to Know
Digital Motion X-ray (DMX) is a video-based X-ray method often used by chiropractors, primarily for neck pain diagnosis and injury lawsuits. However, it is not widely accepted in mainstream medicine due to concerns about radiation exposure. Additionally, DMX is unregulated and even banned in Canada.
Before considering DMX, patients should seek multiple medical opinions to ensure the best care and avoid unnecessary risks.
References:
- Doses from Medical X-Ray Procedures (hps.org)
- Zhang L, Zeitoun D, Rangel A, et al. Preoperative evaluation of the cervical spondylotic myelopathy with flexion-extension magnetic resonance imaging: about a prospective study of fifty patients. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Aug;36(17):E1134–9. PubMed 21785299
- Herzog R, Elgort DR, Flanders AE, Moley PJ. Variability in diagnostic error rates of 10 MRI centers performing lumbar spine MRI examinations on the same patient within a 3-week period. Spine J. 2016 Nov. PubMed 27867079
Article is information purpose only
