When is radiation harmful

Those symptoms will go away and the person will seem healthy for a little while. But then they will get sick again. How soon they get sick again, which symptoms they have, and how sick they get depends on the amount of radiation they received. In some cases, ARS causes death in the following days or weeks.

Exposure to low levels of radiation in the environment does not cause immediate health effects. But it can slightly increase your overall risk of cancer. Before they start treatment, health care professionals need to figure out how much radiation your body absorbed.

They will ask about your symptoms, do blood tests, and may use a device that measures radiation. They also try get more information about the exposure, such as what type of radiation it was, how far away you were from the source of the radiation, and how long you were exposed.

Treatment focuses on reducing and treating infections, preventing dehydration , and treating injuries and burns. Some people may need treatments that help the bone marrow recover its function. If you were exposed to certain types of radiation, your provider may give you a treatment that limits or removes the contamination that is inside your body.

You may also get treatments for your symptoms. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Radiation Exposure. Learn More Related Issues Specifics. See, Play and Learn No links available. Research Clinical Trials Journal Articles. Resources Find an Expert. What is radiation? There are two types: Non-ionizing radiation, which includes radio waves, cell phones, microwaves, infrared radiation and visible light Ionizing radiation, which includes ultraviolet radiation, radon , x-rays , and gamma rays What are the sources of radiation exposure?

What are the health effects of radiation exposure? But if the reactor becomes badly damaged - as happened in Fukushima in Japan in - radiation can escape and become dangerous to the environment.

Radiation damages the cells that make up the human body. Low levels of radiation are not dangerous, but medium levels can lead to sickness, headaches, vomiting and a fever. High levels can kill you by causing damage to your internal organs. It's difficult to treat high radiation exposure. Exposure to radiation over a long time can cause cancer. It's thought that only emergency workers at the plant are at risk of harmful doses of radiation, but it's likely they are only being exposed for short lengths of time so there's less danger.

Have certain medical tests such as X-rays or CT scans or treatments such as radiation treatment for cancer. Are exposed to radon gas in your home. For example: You would need to go through a full-body airport scanner about 1, times to get the same amount of radiation that you would get from 1 chest X-ray. A hour plane flight is about the same exposure as 1 chest X-ray. One mammogram test is about the same as 5 chest X-rays. Living at high altitude such as in Calgary for a year is about the same as having 4 chest X-rays.

One CT scan is about the same as chest X-rays. What can you do to protect yourself? If you are concerned about the risk of getting cancer from having a CT scan, talk to your doctor about the amount of radiation this test may give you.

Confirm that the test is needed. Ask whether another test, such as an ultrasound or an MRI, can be done instead.

In some cases, the benefits of having a CT scan outweigh the small risk of getting cancer. If you have concerns about radiation exposure from a full-body airport scanner, ask if you can get a pat-down instead. But the amount of radiation exposure from one of these scanners is very low. If you are exposed to radiation from a nuclear explosion: Wait for instructions from public health and emergency officials to tell you what to do. Depending on the kind of explosion, authorities may advise you to shelter in place or simply to stay indoors.

You don't need to leave your community unless local authorities tell you to. Don't take potassium iodide KI tablets unless local authorities tell you to and your doctor says that it's okay. These tablets help protect your thyroid gland from the harmful effects of radioactive iodine, which can be released as a result of a nuclear explosion.

They don't protect against any other radioactive substances. KI tablets can be harmful if you don't take them properly, are allergic to iodine, or have certain skin or other health problems. Some common side effects include upset stomach, skin rash, swollen salivary glands, and a metallic taste in your mouth. In rare cases, a person may have a severe allergic reaction. The reaction may cause breathing problems, hives, or swelling around the lips, tongue, or face. References Citations National Cancer Institute Radiation risks and pediatric computed tomography CT : A guide for health care providers.

Patient safety: Radiation dose in X-ray and CT exams. American Nuclear Society Estimate your personal annual radiation dose. Radiation injuries. In JE Tintinalli, ed.