According to a recent report, millions of Americans are receiving high levels of radiation from the over-use of computed tomography (CT) scans, thus increasing one’s chance of getting cancer. The report also states that, in a few decades, as many as 2 percent of all cancers in the United States may be due to radiation from CT scans.

The National Cancer Institute defines a CT scan as a diagnostic procedure that uses special x-ray equipment to obtain cross-sectional pictures of the body. This type of procedure offers a quick, relatively cheap, and painless way to get 3-dimensional (3D) pictures of the body. Doctors use the images to evaluate problems such as trauma, belly pain, seizures, chronic headaches, and kidney stones. Unfortunately, CT machines put out a lot of radiation.

Although the health risk from one single CT scan is small, experts worry that repeated use would have long-term health effects. Due to the fragmented state of health care in the United States, healthcare professionals and their patients often do not know how many CT scans they have had in their lifetime. About 62 million scans were done last year in the U.S. In 1980, 3 million scans were done.

The report states that the average American's total radiation exposure has nearly doubled since 1980, largely because of CT scans, and that medical radiation now accounts for more than half of the U.S. population's total exposure. Prior to 1980, radiation exposure came from sources such as radon and cosmic energy from the sun.

Are we taking unnecessary risks with CT technology? The study authors do not want to discourage people from having CT scans. In most cases, the benefits of having a CT scan outweigh the risks as they are very effective in diagnosing various medical problems. However, it is advised that people keep track of medical radiation exposure, especially for children. Future generations of devices that emit less radiation should help alleviate current concerns. And imaging technologies such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be safer options and are said to not expose people to radiation.

For more information on CT scans and cancer risk, please visit healia.com.