From the monthly archives:

August 2011

Prevent Falls

Don’t you just love watching figure skaters? So graceful, so smooth on the ice. The rest of us? Not so much. Nothing can go so wrong so fast as when we’re walking on icy sidewalks, or across frozen parking lots. Ouch!

So how do we stay safe in icy conditions?

Experts say good shoes are the first key. You want rubber or neoprene composite souls, preferably with good ankle support.

Walk very slowly, testing each step before putting all your weight down.

Keep your hands out of your pockets! Better to balance yourself with them, and use them to brace yourself if you do slip.

Don’t – repeat – don’t carry small children. If you fall, they’ll be helpless.

Hang on to your vehicle when getting in or out of it.

Don’t take shortcuts. Plan your route and give yourself time.

Oh, and it helps to have a sense of humor.

{ 0 comments }

Are x-rays and CT Scans Safe

? When a patient needs imaging to diagnose medical problems and plan treatment, doctors agree that the benefits of radiation exposure outweigh its dangers. The risk of radiation is not zero, but let’s put it in perspective. We’re constantly exposed to background radiation. The American College of Radiology has determined that the radiation exposure in a chest x-ray is about the same as ten days of natural background exposure. A mammogram equals about seven weeks.

The risk of plain xray imaging is therefore considered low to very low, but the relative exposure is much higher for CT scans. CT of the abdomen produces the equivalent of about five years of background exposure. Whether this risk is warranted depends on the situation.

Remember, radiation exposure adds up. It’s a good idea to keep your own x-ray history and share it with your doctor.

{ 0 comments }