Scientists have been analyzing and studying the impacts of radiation for many years. So, they already know enough about how exposure to radiation can interact with human beings’ living tissues and its impacts on their body. Since radiation can be measured, and specialists at UEW Healthcare understand its impacts on health, experts can work around it safely.
What Radiation Is
It refers to energy, which travels as a particle or wave. Some forms of radiation are harmful; a good example is ionizing radiation. Radioactivity is a type of ionizing radiation given off by certain things, such as uranium, in the form of decay.
Around half of the ionizing radiation people get exposed to usually comes from nature. This can be air, soil, or rock. The remaining half often comes from man-made sources, including:
- Nuclear power plants
- Treatments
- Medical tests
Impacts of Radiation Exposure
Radiation exposure and damage to organs and tissues depend on the radiation you receive or absorb. The potential damage also depends on the radiation type and your organs and tissues’ sensitivity.
The most effective dose is often used to measure radiation’s potential to cause harm or damage. The Sv (Sievert) is the standard unit of effective radiation dose, after considering the radiation type and organs/tissues’ sensitivity.
Apart from a certain threshold, radiation may impair how organs and tissues function and may cause health problems like the following:
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Thyroid Problem
Some parts of the body get affected when exposed to various radiation sources. The thyroid gland can be affected if exposed to radioactive iodine. When exposed to a particular radioactive iodine amount, part or whole of the thyroid gland will be affected, too.
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Cancer
Being exposed to a low level of radiation won’t result in health effects immediately but may increase the risks of getting cancer. Some studies show that radiation industry employees and survivors of atomic bombs have a higher risk of getting cancer. The risk also increases when the dose of radiation increases – meaning the more the dose, the more the risk.
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Mental Health
According to health experts, any emergency, and that includes those involving radiation exposure, may result in psychological and emotional distress.
Treatment
Before treatment starts, healthcare experts will have to figure out the amount of radiation your body has absorbed. Your doctor will inquire about your current symptoms, carry out a blood test, and use a device that measures radiation. They will also try getting more details about radiation exposure, like how long you were exposed, the distance you were from the radiation source, and what kind of radiation you got exposed to.
Treatment often concentrates on treating and minimizing infections while treating burns/injuries and preventing dehydration. Some individuals might require treatments that help their bone marrow recover. If you are exposed to a particular form of radiation, your doctor will offer you treatment that removes or limits the contamination in your body.
For a low level of radiation, biological effects are minimal, making them undetectable. Plus, the body of a human being has a strong defense mechanism against different kinds of damage that radiation induces. However, the exact impact will depend on the intensity and type of radiation you are exposed to.