A CT scan is known as “Computerized Tomography” that gives doctors a detailed view of the patient’s body, enabling a comprehensive diagnosis and detection of the underlying reason for any unusual symptom.
If the doctor has advised you to undergo a CT scan, but you are skeptical about the process and its consequences, here are the five Must know facts about CT scan that will help you prepare for the scan.
LET’S GET STARTED!
- A CT SCAN IS THE PROCESS OF SLICED IMAGES
A CT scan is the process of examining the patient’s internal body structures. This state-of-the-art medical imaging technology uses ionizing radiation to generate images from different angles and positions.
The images created are sliced images. That means, when these images are combined, they make a single but very detailed image. The doctors recommend this procedure to detect the underlying issues in the organs, lymph nodes, traumatic injuries, bones, spinal cord, etc.
For cancer patients, a scan is a foremost technique to evaluate the disease’s progression and then decide the substantial treatment.
- LEVEL OF EXPOSURE TO RADIATION
CT scan captures the images of your body using the x-rays. It uses a radioactive material along with the high-resolution gamma camera to capture the organs’ functional and structural images at cellular levels.
You May Also Love To Read This Blog – WARNING SIGN OF BRAIN TUMOR
- KNOW ABOUT THE CONTRAST AGENTS
Sometimes, the patients are told to ingest a contrast agent or inject it before the CT scan. The agent aims to make the specific tissues and vessels more visible, providing comprehensive details for better scanning results.
- WHEN SHOULD YOU SAY NO TO CT SCAN
A CT scan is a risk-free scanning process, but in certain conditions, the patients should not undergo the scanning. Patients suffering from problems like chronic kidney disease, carrying a pregnancy, or are claustrophobic diabetic must not go for the CT scanning. Patients should always inform the doctor if they have any of the issues and plan for another option if it is an emergency or delay the scanning procedure.
- YOU NEED TO STAY STILL DURING THE SCANNING
While the patients lay on the table for the scanning process, they should be very still and restrict every movement. This is because even a small movement of breathing can generate a defective image.
However, if you feel any discomfort, you can tell the technician in charge, and thus the process will be immediately stopped. If the images generated are not accurate, you can be instructed to get the scan again.
Dos and Don’ts before undergoing CT scan
Besides knowing about the procedure, it is essential to understand what should be done and not done before you undergo the scan.
Do’s
- Drink plain water
- You can consume your medications of diabetes or blood pressure as per the schedule
- Inform the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
- The patient must inform the doctor if he has undergone radiation therapy recently or any other operative surgery.
- If you have diabetes, then you can have your meal 6 hours before the CT scan.
DON’TS
- Don’t consume food at least eight hours before the CT scan
- Strenuous activities like heavy exercises or going to the gym should not be done at least 24 hours before the examination.
- Avoid wearing metallic objects like belts, zips, etc.
- Don’t wear any kind of jewelry while undergoing the scan.
- If you are a diabetic patient and have insulin injected, you should not go for the scan, else restrict the intake of insulin before the scan.
HAVE YOUR CT SCAN AT NARAD HOSPITAL
Narad Hospital is the foremost CT scan hospital providing world-class diagnostic services. We are fully equipped with modern technology and state-of-the-art laboratories accompanied by all the environmental control measures. We deliver accurate and error-free reports to patients on time. Get yourself diagnosed as soon as possible, to avoid the delay in finding the underlying reason for the unusual symptoms.
