Dear Dr. Garner,
I am concerned about reports of harm from X-rays. I read that if someone has just a few CAT scans that he might have increased risk of cancer. Is this true?
Radiation Fears in Flushing

Dear Radiation Fears,

I was just discussing this topic with my friend Dr. Antonio Mascatello. The answer to your question is that radiation is labeled a carcinogen, which means it can cause cancer. The news story you are referring to, discussed the overuse of medical X-rays by doctors. When used appropriately, medical X-rays almost never cause cancer, and at times are lifesaving. There are ways to limit one’s exposure to radiation from medical tests.

I hope you will find the following tips useful.

• When your doctor orders an X-ray exam, always ask her if there is another way to make the diagnosis; perhaps a sonogram or MRI would work as well.

• Verify that your X-ray facility is accredited – this ensures you will get the least radiation in a facility that strictly follows the guidelines of the American College of Radiology.

• Always make sure that the facility gives you a CD disc of the exam. You will have a permanent record. Many times, CAT scans are duplicated because someone switches doctors and the new doctor does not know or cannot get a record of what was done.

• If there is a chance one might be pregnant, I recommend a pregnancy test prior to the X-ray.

• Never demand an X-ray from your doctor. There are many instances when he can make a diagnosis, without ordering X-rays.

• If a child is being X-rayed, particularly with a CAT scan (has more radiation than simple X-rays), I request that my patients have a consultation with a pediatrician to verify that the exam is necessary.

The bottom line advice is that one should never avoid an X-ray exam that is medically indicated. Radiation is not harmless and each time you get an X-ray, the dose adds up. Avoid radio and TV advertisements that promote whole body CAT scans. Always consult with your physician before getting any radiological exams. It is estimated that about one-third of CAT scan exams are not necessary. This means that about 20-30 million scans a year could be avoided with proper screening and understanding of the risk involved.

I would like to address one other issue for which I have received letters and questions this week. It deals with the issue of salt and its relationship to health. As we eat increased amounts of processed foods, our diets have seen a surge in the amount of salt ingested. Salt is a major factor in high blood pressure and increases the risk for heart disease. The deaths attributed to excess salt consumption present a huge toll – the equivalent of a jumbo jet with more than 400 passengers crashing every day of the year, year after year.

Research has shown that lowering salt intake lowers blood pressure.

Many groups are urging the FDA to take action to restrict the use of salt in foods.

Groups particularly hard hit from excess salts are African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people and those with preexisting high blood pressure. These are at greater risk for heart problems linked to salt consumption.

A top 10 list of foods to avoid or eat in moderation based on salt quantity is:

1. Processed soups
2. Salted butter or margarine
3. Salad dressing
4. Instant cooked cereal or frozen dinner
5. Even foods that sound healthy make the list because they are loaded with salt. These include cold cereals,
6. Premade Asian foods made with teriyaki or soy sauce
7. Buttermilk
8. Processed cheese
9. Soy protein foods
10. Blood Mary Mix (Don’t throw out the vodka) only in moderation though.

When eating at home, you can find out how much salt per day you are eating. The recommended limit is 2,300 milligrams or one teaspoon. Most Americans double that number. The hardest part is to figure out how much salt we eat at restaurants.The FDA is pushing for labeling in restaurants to show how much salt is included in menu items. This way, one could make his own decision as to how much salt he will intake.

I urge everyone to cut down on salt used, and to keep the intake lower than the 2,300-milligram level currently recommended.

I thank you for your questions and hope you have a great week and be well.

Dr. Steven Garner is a Fidelis Care provider who is affiliated with New York Methodist Hospital, Park Slope. He also is the host of “Ask the Doctor,” the popular call-in TV show, seen locally on The Prayer Channel.

‘Ask the Doctor’ Live

The next live broadcast of the “Ask the Doctor” show can be seen on The Prayer Channel on Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m.

Viewers are invited to call in their questions to Dr. Steven Garner and his panel of experts.

The Prayer Channel, conducted by the Diocese of Brooklyn, is Ch. 97 on Time Warner outlets, and Ch. 30 on Cablevision. It is seen in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island.