Health Update: Does repeated CT scan increase the risk of cancer? Know what new research says..

Nowadays, from minor injuries to serious diseases, doctors advise patients to get a CT Scan done immediately. With the help of this technical test, it becomes very easy to identify diseases, but now a new study has raised concerns about it. According to research, getting CT scans done repeatedly can increase the risk of cancer. After this study, many questions have arisen about whether it is safe to get a CT scan or not. Let's know about this study and its reason.

What does the study say

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine states that if CT scans continue to be done for every small or big problem like this, then in the next few years CT scans may be responsible for 5% of new cancer cases every year. The study also stated that CT scans are done through radiation. And this radiation can be dangerous because science believes that it can cause cancer. Although the risk of cancer can be reduced by CT scans once or twice, it would not be right to say that there is no risk. Young children and adolescents may be at greater risk.

What could be the reason?

Experts believe that if people under the age of 50 get repeated CT scans, then their body is exposed to more radiation. This radiation can damage the cells of the body and cause mutations in them, which can increase the risk of cancer in the future. Especially chest and abdominal CT scans have a higher radiation dose, which can have a long-term effect.

How much radiation is there in a CT scan?

According to experts, a CT scan, especially a chest or abdominal scan, produces radiation equivalent to 100 to 500 X-rays. This means that if a patient needs repeated CT scans, such as due to cancer follow-up, repeated injuries, or chronic diseases, then the radiation burden in his body may gradually increase.

Who is at greater risk?

- Children and young people

- Patients who undergo repeated scans

- Those who are already at risk of cancer

- People with a weak immune system

What to do and what not to do

- Get a CT scan done only when it is needed.

- Ask the doctor if an MRI or ultrasound can be used.

- Keep a record of the scans, so that you have a history of how many times and which part has been scanned.

- Ask the doctor or technician about the radiation dose.

- Ask for a pediatric setting before a CT scan for children, so that there is less radiation exposure.

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