<p>I went to the dr today (actually the nurse practitioner) for a sore throat I’ve had for about a week now. She thinks it’s allergies but prescribed two x-rays (head and chest) “to be sure it’s not something else.”</p>
<p>I think I’m going to skip these–they just don’t seem worth the radiation risk.</p>
<p>Note: I am not (I don’t think) an extreme worrier about x-rays–a few years ago when I had a horrible cough and severe chest pain I was happy to have the two x-rays that diagnosed pneumonia–but I do think there should be a pretty good reason to justify the risk.</p>
<p>What would you do? Should I have the head and chest x-rays to make sure, even though there are no significant head or chest symptoms?</p>
<p>Are you on medications for allergies? Have you been tested for allergies? Wouldn’t you try this first? I’m not as worried about x-rays as I’ve gotten older, had my kid, etc. but i’m not sure these sound necessary. I’m a nurse and psychologist.</p>
<p>I no longer comply with my internist’s standing orders for chest xrays every year. I have never been given a good reason as to what he’s looking for and why it needs to be annual. I have already had several CT scans of my lungs and sinuses, and annual xrays for several years. Not sure why he keeps wanting them and he’s never articulated a particular reason. I can understand it if it needs to confirm a diagnosis and resolution of pneumonia but otherwise, can’t understand it.</p>
<p>The best I understand, he’s screening for lung cancer with these annual xrays, but studies have NOT shown that xrays or even lung CTs are that helpful in detecting early stage lung cancer.</p>
<p>I generally don’t get xrays unless there is a compelling reason to, as I feel I’ve already had more exposure than I’d like with the CTs and Xrays to date.</p>
<p>Physician here. I would worry more about the NP’s advice for the x rays. Doesn’t make sense medically. A sore throat without severe chest symptoms doesn’t merit a chest xray, head- sinus??? x rays for what reason??? No need to go into details here. I would ask to see the MD instead- you paid for a terrible practioner based on what you said. </p>
<p>Regarding the radiation exposure- I wouldn’t worry if they were truly indicated. </p>
<p>I walked out of the dentist’s office last fall when the hygenist said they were now routinely adding additional mouth x rays to the bite wings- no symptoms indicating a logical reason, just to get a baseline every five years. Huh? I wasn’t going to wait to have my teeth cleaned, the main reason for the visit until the dentist was free for me to discuss the need. I use an good electric tooth brush and will wait a while longer rather than pay more than $100 dollars for something I don’t see any yield from.</p>
<p>Some practitioners substitute tests for knowledge. A more thorough history and exam would have helped. Sometimes patients see their doctor with what is a severe cold- viral- and coughing et al merits a chest xrayto disprove pneumomia. Rarely are sinus x rays for a first time sinus problem indicated.</p>
<p>You got me on my soapbox. Of course we don’t have all of the details- and don’t want them here. I thought routine chest x rays went out of fashion decades ago as well.</p>
<p>I don’t “worry” about x-rays, but I don’t allow “routine” x-rays on my own body, either. Dental x-rays at every semi-annual appointment? NO. Mammograms - YES. If someone prescribed an x-ray for me for a sore-throat of one week duration and no other worrisome factors - NO. And I would be thinking about whether I wanted to change practices to a new physician/NP.</p>
<p>I have never had x-rays recommended as in the OP’s case, but I AM getting worried as I am technically supposed to get about four or five x-rays minimum a year routinely on different parts of my body for different reasons. I worry that this exposure could add up over the years. For one area, I am trying to get a sonogram twice a year instead, and have already had one MRI on a bad spot. I am trying to have my DEXA bone scan coincide with an annual I have on a certain replaced joint…
Oh well, it is so confusing.</p>
<p>Does exposure to x-rays on different parts of the body combine to enhance risk?</p>
<p>I fly on airplanes a lot, use microwave ovens, and keep my cell phone near some organs that are special. I think the x-ray radiation from a chest x-ray is small compared to the other radiation that I am subjected to.</p>
<p>As a doc, I do wonder about the indication for the xrays. Did the NP explain what might be learned from these studies and how this information would change the management of your sore throat?</p>
<p>While the radiation dose from a chest xray is small, an unindicated xray would needlessly expose you to radiation.</p>
<p>Well, wouldn’t an xray be able to check form some sort of blockage or whatever?</p>
<p>I think it would be best to go to an allergist than do an xray (and have fun with their skin tests >.>).</p>
<p>I can understand if it as a condition that, say, affected the bones where it would need yearly monitering or whatnot. But that sounds a little strange.</p>
<p>Actually, the radiation that we are exposed to from cell phones, microwaves and most airport scanners, is non-ionizing and the risk of harm from daily exposure does not even come close to that of the ionizing radiation emitted from an x-ray or CT scan.</p>
<p>I think the airport comment referred to cosmic rays, which are ionizing. Cosmic rays also elevate background radiation exposure in high-altitude locations like Denver.</p>
<p>Radiation exposure to different parts of the body do not add - each organ has its own risk. I would not worry much about radiation to extremities or chest radiographs (very low dose). CT scans carry huge radiation exposure, and dental x-rays are a problem, too. Dose from mammograms has been lowered quite a bit in recent years because of advances in digital detection systems. </p>
<p>In general, you should not worry about radiation exposure from any exam that is necessary, but make sure that the exam is needed. The OPs exam does not sound necessary to me.</p>
<p>Call the NP and ask - it’s part of their service. In all likelihood there is an indication you would benefit from the differential diagnosis provided by the x-ray. It is a tool to rule out a sinus abnormality or sinusitis. I had essentially the same thing 20 years ago, got the x-ray, and ended up with surgery to correct a deviated septum and remove scar tissue from repeated infections (due to the septum issues). It got me off of the allergy medication I had been taking every day until then.</p>
<p>Also, the new dental x-rays are very low dose, less than 1% of the old dental x-ray machines. A lifetime of dental x-rays adds up to 1 regular x-ray.</p>
<p>Did the NP do a swab for strep? How old are you?
I wouldn’t worry about that level of radiation. I’d be more concerned about the competence of the NP. There are no head and chest symptoms. Did she listen to your chest? Elicit pain on palpation of sinuses? What the heck is an xray going to tell you about you presenting symptom?</p>
<p>NP here. I’m not sure why these xrays were ordered. If she was thinking the sore throat was from post nasal drip, she should have recommended saline nasal spray and maybe allergy medicine. If she was worried about sinusitis, did she palpate your sinuses? Tell you to run a humidifier? I would also consider gastro esophageal reflux as a cause for sore throat that does not appear infectious. I see no reason based on your post why these xrays should be done. There are many clinical assessments that can be done prior to xraying anything for a sore throat.
It pains me to say, this NP seems to be way off the mark.</p>
<p>you current have a 1:3 chance of dying from cancer. Having one chest x-ray increases your odds to 1:3.000001. A second chest x-ray increases your odds to 1:3.000002.</p>