Focus On Technology: X-Ray
This Proven Technology Can Sometimes Be A Child’s Best Friend
Children love to climb, jump, run and explore. Unfortunately, that also means that they’re much more likely than adults to tumble, fall and crash. The result can be anything from a scraped knee to a broken bone. Having an X-ray taken is standard procedure to determine if a child has a broken bone.
An X-ray is a quick, safe and painless procedure that uses beams of electromagnetic radiation to create images of the body’s inside structures. An X-ray is particularly effective in creating images to check for bone fractures. X-rays can also be taken to check the body for arthritis, osteoporosis, bone cancer, lung infections and problems in the digestive tract.
Almost No Risk Some people mistakenly believe that having an X-ray is dangerous. High levels of
radiation can increase the risk of cancer, but the amount of radiation used in an X-ray is so low that the risk is insignificant, especially when compared to the health benefits. However, women who are pregnant or think that they might be pregnant should inform their physician before undergoing an X-ray.
Going Digital Instead of using film, most X-rays taken today are saved digitally. Because there is no
film to develop, the process is much faster and the images can be transmitted electronically almost instantaneously to your physician’s or pediatrician’s office for a quicker diagnosis and faster treatment.
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