Exposure to radiation can cause negative health effects on the body. Even some types of equipment like medical imaging and diagnosing devices emit elevated radiation levels that can lead to health issues if patients and technicians don’t wear the right protection.
The good news is that there are many types of protective gear and shielding accessories that allow you to safely operate X-ray machines and similar devices in your facility.
Below, we’ll explore the reasons why your medical team and patients need radiation protection equipment. We will also discuss the different types of protective equipment you can use and the different devices that can produce elevated radiation levels.
Risks of Radiation Exposure During Medical Imaging
Medical imaging tests are performed every day in hospitals and medical facilities, but it’s necessary to take precautions to prevent long-term negative side effects. If not, you may be putting both patients and technicians who operate machinery like MRI devices in danger.
Simply put, exposure to elevated radiation without protection can lead to severe health issues. Let’s take a deeper look at these.
Elevated Risk of Cancer
Cancer is among the leading causes of death in the US and exposure to radiation without the proper protection can result in increased risk for both patients and your medical team. This condition can develop in different parts of the body, but the organs most affected by radiation tend to be the thyroid, eyes, gums, and visceral organs.
Damage to Skin Tissue Cells
Exposure to radiation-based medical imaging technology can also irritate and damage skin tissue cells. This manifests as red patches, dry areas, and similar skin conditions that require moisturization or more specific treatments.
Contribute to Thyroid Issues
Besides increasing the risks of cancer, radiation also causes a huge amount of stress on your thyroid glands. This, in turn, can produce hormonal imbalances that affect your mood, digestion, and other processes related to hormones.
Increase in Eye Damage
Medical imaging solutions like X-rays can damage the small vessels and delicate layers that make up the eye. This can produce poor vision as well as glaucoma, dry eyes, lesions, tumors, and in severe cases, blindness.
Stresses the Reproductive System
Radiation also inflicts a huge amount of stress and damage to the reproductive system, particularly male gonads. The reason for this is that radiation has the potential to lower serum testosterone levels and affect the creation of sperm. Radiation can also damage genetic material, cause oxidative stress, and result in accelerated apoptosis or natural cell death.
Why Does Radiation Affect the Body?
Why does radiation affect humans and all living things? The reason is that these waves carry enough energy to impact and displace atoms within living cells. This, in turn, damages DNA and produces different types of stress on the body.
It’s important to note that the human body is extremely efficient at repairing and mitigating this damage in normal circumstances. However, medical professionals and patients who are constantly exposed to radiation need to wear protection to avoid health issues like the ones listed above.
Protective Equipment to Reduce Radiation Exposure
Let’s take a look at the safety accessories you should consider if you have medical imaging equipment that produces elevated radiation.
Lead Aprons
Lead aprons and vests help protect practitioners from elevated radiation. At the same time, you can also opt for lighter allow-based alternatives that provide a similar layer of radiation protection.
Plus, if the devices in your facility produce radiation liquid contamination, you can even find aprons that have impervious coatings suitable for your facility.
Thyroid Shields
As the name suggests, these safety accessories are designed to protect the thyroid glands located at the base of the neck. High-quality thyroid shield collars minimize the amount of radiation that reaches glands and they can be made from materials that allow your team to complete their shifts comfortably.
Lead Glasses
If your team members have to operate X-ray machines and similar imaging equipment, it’s important to protect their eyes. The good news is that you can now get lead radiation glasses made to prescription, so your team can maintain high safety levels across the board when performing their duties.
Dental Radiation Protection
X-ray devices are among the most common medical imaging machines out there and they can be found in many dental practices. This has elevated the need for dental radiation protection for patients who get routine X-rays taken during their checkups.
Movable Shields and Other Accessories
Depending on the imaging machines and treatment devices in your facility, your team may also need accessories like movable shields, apron racks, and other accessories designed specifically to prevent radiation exposure.
Types of Imaging Tests that Utilize Radiation
Wondering which are the types of medical imaging that produce radiation? Here are some examples.
X-Rays
X-ray medical imaging machines use radiation to give us a view of our bones and internal organs, but they also produce elevated readings that have a build-up effect if the right protection is not worn around them.
Computed Tomography (CT) Scans
Computed Tomography (CT) scans use a combination of X-ray and digital technology to generate detailed images of our internal organs and tissues. The amount of radiation here is usually greater than during an X-ray, so wearing protective gear is essential for patients and practitioners alike.
Fluoroscopy
Fluoroscopy tests also utilize X-ray technology, but this time it’s paired with a type of “dye” which can be either a contrasting agent or instrument. The goal is to create high-contrasting images using the dye and X-ray beams, thus gathering a more detailed image of the area.
Barrier Technologies: Protecting You During Medical Imaging Procedures
Having medical imaging equipment in your facility can be greatly beneficial to both patients and practitioners. That said, you also have to take additional steps to protect every individual who is exposed to elevated radiation to prevent long-term health issues.
Fortunately, you have a collection of protective equipment that keeps your practitioners and patients safe, including lead aprons, thyroid shields, and many other accessories.
At Barrier Technologies we design high-quality protective gear for all medical facilities. Get in touch with us today!
