In article
<WS1xe.1057798$w62.236432@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>,

For some patients, this is very important (x-ray exposure).  Not to
dwell on my own situation; but, as a matter of example/interest related
to this matter, I was exposed to excessive diagnostic levels related to
covered-up complications during orthognathic surgery.  My (academic)
radiologist tallied my exposure related only to the search for what
existed in my skull that caused my losss of jaw function in an effort to
figure out what could be done for me and that alone, in his opinion, was
equivalent to "high risk" for the development of tumora in the head and
neck.  His caution was that I should *not* be exposed to any studied
that were not absolutely necessary.  I can't remember the number
assigned to his findings; it doesn't really matter.  What matters was/is
that studies must be ordered only when absolutely necessary for my
health.  The point being that over the course of one's lifetime, the
exposure accumulates and no one actually knows how much is too much.  
This new report drives that point home.

FYI, my packet of x-rays is so heavy that I can hardly lift/carry it.  
That is a whole lot of exposure....

I prefer to let the whole thing go, advising any new doctor about my
situation and then deciding risk v benefit of any study ordered.

Webby
P.S. I noted the five groups this is cross-posted to and figured that it
was okay to allow the post to go to all five.

They still do...........

sh.t, is he still alive?

Correct.  I love it when medical/dental/imaging folks pull out those
catch-alls
for the gullible masses, e.g. "you get more radiation exposure from the
bricks
on your house...from sunlight...from breathing," etc.  There is no
threshold,
below which there is no increased risk, this has been known for
decades.
I never submit to x-rays unless I decide they're necessary.  MD's and
dentists love 'em for their patients!

--
Cliff

Are the people who are afraid of a dental x-ray also afraid of a glass
of water?

Hey, it's just a small amount of water, but water CAN kill you.  Be
afraid!

"Richard Monson, professor of epidemiology at the Harvard School of
Public Health and the chairman of the science panel, said people should
consult with their physicians before choosing optional medical services
"

I like how they also say to "consult your physician" about
the risks of x-rays. So doctors have degrees in physics and
have done studies on the longterm effects of radiation?

the problem with this article and others like it is they don't
say how the results where reached. it follows the same lame
formual as most other nuggets of medical wisdom doled out by
the media.

The article notes that an offical sounding committe was formed
with the term "National", the national reasearch council or other,
the article then goes on to note that somebody with a degree from
harvard participated in the study, the schools, harvard princeton
or yale are mentioned repeatedly to leave no doubt as to the credablity
and veracity of the results to the gullible public.

Finally with absoultey no details given about study itself the  the
final authoritative statistcal result is dramatically revealed in
surprising vague terms. I.e the national research council, co-chaired
by Dr. So and so from harvard has determined that EXACTLY 1 in 100
people are at some increased risk due to radiation according to the
available data although there is "no evidence" to suggest any x-rays
have actually been observed causing harm. And you know what, in another
5 years they will come out with another study showing how wrong this
study was and how eating red MM's
really does give you cancer after all when they need another research
grant. It's all just a bunch of baloney.