Iowa Radiology Blog

Quitting smoking is hard. Nicotine is highly addictive, so even occasional smokers can become dependent on it. Maybe you started by sharing a cigarette with friends and then found yourself reaching for one when you felt stressed, tired, or bored. In time, it can become difficult to imagine life without smoking. How does this happen?

Radiation comes in many forms, and we’re exposed to it every day. At low levels, radiation exposure is not a cause for concern; it’s simply a fact of life. Exposure to high levels of radiation, on the other hand, can cause severe health effects and even death. When you’re considering a medical procedure that involves radiation, it makes sense to weigh the potential risk to your health against the benefit it can provide. Let’s look at what you should know about radiation in mammograms.

Breast cancer screening is constantly evolving. Since mammography began to work its way into women’s health care in the 1950s, advances in technology have made it both safer and more effective. Today, women have more choices than ever for early detection of breast cancer. In this article, we will explore two different types of mammography: traditional two-dimensional mammography and breast tomosynthesis, more commonly known as 3-D mammography.

Habits are hard to change. Actions we repeat over and over become second nature, and we often do them without even thinking. This is helpful when it comes to things like daily hygiene rituals or driving a stick shift, but the force of habit can also make it difficult to change our behavior when we want to. If you’re thinking about starting a weight loss journey, the idea of making necessary lifestyle changes can be daunting; however, there are several ways you can set yourself up for success.

Are you struggling to lose those final few pounds? Losing weight certainly has its frustrating moments, and the last few pounds to reach your goal can be stubborn. But there is a lot that goes into losing weight and you're not alone if you've hit a slowing or stopping point. 

Let's look closer at what's going on.

Mammography is the most widely used and commonly recommended technology for breast imaging. The American College of Radiology and the Society for Breast Imaging recommend annual mammography screening for women at average risk of breast cancer beginning at age 40. In some instances, however, MRI or ultrasound imaging is recommended as a supplement to mammography.

Why are other imaging methods recommended?

Why calculate BMI?

BMI is a widely used measure because it’s easy, convenient, and non-invasive. Anyone can quickly calculate their BMI at home with no information other than their current height and weight. You can calculate it yourself using a formula, or you can use any number of free online BMI calculators. While this can give most people a general idea of whether they are carrying extra weight, it falls short in some important ways. 

Are you wondering if now is a good time to get tested for lung cancer, even if you’re not currently experiencing any symptoms? Getting a screening early is a good idea to make sure you’re healthy or identify potential cancer before it spreads. 

It’s been understood for decades that tobacco smoking is the single leading cause of lung cancer, causing an estimated 1.5 to 2 million deaths per year. Eighty-five percent of lung cancers occur in current or former smokers. This year, there is a new reason to quit smoking: COVID-19. Recent studies indicate that when infected with the novel coronavirus, tobacco smokers are more likely to develop severe infections, to need mechanical ventilation, and to die as a result of the illness. This is not surprising, given that smoking causes damage that inhibits the lungs’ ability to clean and repair themselves. Along with getting plenty of exercise, eating healthy, and managing stress, avoiding cigarettes is one if the top ways to keep your immune system in good working order during the pandemic.

The strategy of closing businesses and advising residents to stay at home is, by design, isolating. That’s good for limiting the damage that the coronavirus known as COVID-19 is able to inflict in our communities. Isolation, however, comes at a cost. In the best of circumstances, restrictions on where you can go, what you can do, and who you can see in person would be hard to deal with. The stress of a new, fast-spreading illness and uncertainty about the future make it even more troubling. How can these changes in our daily lives affect our health?