May 2023 Health Newsletter

High powered x-rays, commonly referred to as CT scans, provide doctors with much clearer images and can lead to better accuracy when making a diagnosis. However, the scans also can expose a patient to up to 100 times more radiation than a standard x-ray. A new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, indicates that patients are rarely advised of the possible health risks involved when receiving a CT scan, including increased risk of cancer. The majority of patients also believed that the final decision to have the scans belonged to their doctors. The JAMA study involved nearly 300 patients who received CT scans at the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center from November through December 2011. Results of the survey indicated that only 35 percent of the patients had discussed the risks of a CT scan with their physicians. 62 percent of the patients reported that the final decision to have the scan was made by their doctor. Only 17 percent reported being involved in the decision making process. The numbers are alarming when compared to the health risks posed by the scans. An unrelated study by the National Cancer Institute estimated approximately 29,000 future cancers related to CT scans done in 2007. In that year alone, there were nearly 72 million total CT scans performed in the U.S.

A new study from researchers at the University of Edinburgh has shown that adults who suffer from mood disorders may have a higher risk for stroke or heart attack. The long-term study, published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality Outcomes, followed nearly 222,000 people older than 45 for almost 5 years. None of the participants had a stroke or heart attack in their medical history. Among men age 45-79, those who had experienced a moderate amount of psychological distress before the study began were 20% likelier to have a stroke and 28% likelier to suffer a heart attack, as compared to men without mental disorders. Men who suffered psychological problems at high levels were 44% likelier to suffer a stroke and 60% likelier to suffer a heart attack. The rate of stroke and heart attack for women was slightly different. Among the same age group, women who had suffered moderate psychological distress were 28% likelier to suffer a stroke and 12% likelier to suffer a heart attack. Meanwhile, women with very high levels of psychological issues were 68% likelier to suffer a stroke and 24% likelier to suffer a heart attack. Researchers note that the study wasn’t meant to definitively prove a connection between mood disorders and heart attacks/strokes. However, they say it's possible that mood disorder symptoms can affect the body negatively, such as increasing inflammation in the circulatory system, though more studies are needed.