Ct scan: is it safe for me and what preparations need to be done?

What is a CT scan?

A CT scan is a medical examination that uses both X-ray technology and a computer. This examination allows the medical team to see what is happening inside the patient's body. You could say a CT scan is a tool used to read a person's body condition. This examination is clearer and more detailed than an X-ray examination.

Doctors usually ask you to do a CT scan to:

Find out if there is a problem with your bones and joints. By doing this examination, the doctor is able to detect a fracture or tumor in the bone.
Detects tumors, blood clots, fluid overload, and infections.
If you have a special health condition such as cancer, heart disease, or impaired liver function, your doctor uses this test to see the progress of the disease you are suffering from.
Indicates the location of internal injuries and bleeding from accidents or heavy impact.
Guides treatment plans and procedures, such as biopsy, surgery, and radiation therapy.
Seeing the progress of treatment that has been done by the patient. For example, seeing the response to chemotherapy or radiation therapy performed by cancer patients.

Preparation before undergoing the examination procedure

Actually, you don't need to prepare anything to do this examination. However, there are some things you should tell your doctor before undergoing a CT scan. Check out the list below.

Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future
Having impaired heart function, such as heart failure
Have diabetes
Are currently taking metformin
Have asthma
Experiencing impaired kidney function

Meanwhile, if you do not have these conditions, then you can just come to the hospital when your examination is scheduled. Shortly before the examination takes place, you will be asked to do the following.

Take off clothes and replace them with clothes that are specially provided from the hospital.
Removing jewelry or accessories worn such as watches, bracelets, necklaces, and rings. You will also need to remove dentures, hair clips, and hearing aids.
If you have a metallic implantation in the body, such as a heart ring, or a nut in the bone, report it to your doctor immediately. The reason is, these objects will block X rays from penetrating into the body.
Do not eat and drink several hours before performing this examination procedure.

If you feel excessively nervous, it's best to talk to your doctor. The doctor may give you a sedative so that you can perform the examination more relaxed.

CT scan examination process

The following are the stages of the CT scan examination process:

If you have met all the requirements mentioned above, the doctor will then ask you to lie down on the scanner table.
During the scan, you can feel the scanner table moving inside the scanner that is shaped like a donut. This high-speed CT scan will capture multiple images of every part of your body. This includes your organs, bones, or even blood vessels.
During the test process, you are not allowed to move because it can blur the image. You may also be asked to hold your breath for a few moments.

This examination usually only takes about 30-60 minutes. The duration of time may vary depending on the part of the body to be examined.

If needed, your doctor may give you contrast fluid before testing. Depending on which part of the body is being scanned, the doctor may give a contrast fluid as an injection into the bloodstream or a drink. The contrast fluid itself helps the scanning process so that the resulting image will be clearer.

But before being given this contrast dye, there are a number of things you need to pay attention to, including:

Tell your doctor if you have a history of allergies to contrast dye. You may be asked to take certain medications before the test so that your body can "accept" this contrast dye.
Tell your doctor about all the drugs you are taking, as you may be asked not to take these medications temporarily before the test. Some drugs that usually have to be stopped temporarily are diabetes drugs and metformin (Glucophage).

Are there any risks in doing this examination?

Just like an x-ray, a CT scan uses X-rays to read your organs. So this examination should not be done by pregnant women or babies. The reason is, X rays can affect the development and growth of babies and fetuses.

If you are not pregnant, it is safe to do this. You don't need to worry about the X-ray exposure you receive when the test is done. The radiation given by the X-rays is dosed, so it doesn't pose a danger to your health.

There is a study which states that this screening procedure increases the risk of cancer and can damage DNA. However, this risk is very small, only 1 in 2,000 cases. So, a CT scan is still considered a fairly safe examination and can help doctors evaluate the patient's condition.

Only, indeed, in some cases, CT scans can cause allergies due to drug injections given before carrying out the examination. But take it easy, these side effects are rare. If you are still anxious about doing this examination, then you should discuss this with your doctor.