Ultrasounds aren't just used for pregnancies. In fact, they are used in almost every aspect of medicine to help identify problems with the human body. If you're never had health issues, you wouldn't have a reason to have an ultrasound, but for those who do struggle with chronic conditions, gynecological problems, kidney stones, or other conditions, ultrasounds can save the day.
Ultrasounds: Safe and Effective
Ultrasounds are safe and effective ways of looking into the body. An ultrasound produces images, usually in black and white, that can be seen in real time.
Ultrasounds use sound instead of X-rays, making the risk of radiation exposure to the patient nonexistent. With the use of oscillating sound pressure waves, the inside of the body can be mapped, similar to the way a bat uses sound to see in dark caverns.
Because there is no radiation risk with an ultrasound, it's the go-to method of seeing fetuses, monitoring chronic conditions, and for other medical procedures.
Ultrasounds: Getting the Right Diagnosis
Getting the right diagnosis for your health condition is important, and ultrasounds can help. Ultrasounds aren't just used on the stomach. They can identify problems with the:
and various other organs. On top of that, ultrasounds are capable of helping doctors identify problems in the:
Using an Ultrasound in Unusual Ways
Ultrasounds aren't just used in traditional manners. They can be used in a pinch to help find blood vessels of severely dehydrated patients, or they can be used to guide doctors during particularly difficult biopsies.
Using an ultrasound alongside a biopsy while also using a CT scan can make it easier for the surgeon to direct the biopsy needle. A needle biopsy is not as invasive as a surgical biopsy, so this type of ultrasound is safer for patients and runs a lower risk of infection. The chance of an infection bad enough to need antibiotics with this procedure is under one in 1,000.
Ultrasounds can also be used together with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) and X-rays to break up kidney stones. The X-ray and the ultrasound machines are used to pinpoint the kidney stone, and the ESWL then shocks it, forcing it to be broken down into smaller parts that can be passed in the urine of the patient without as much pain.
These are a few ways ultrasounds can benefit you, no matter what the issue may be. Contact professionals like those at EVDI Medical Imaging for more information.
Share7 May 2015
My parents taught me healthy eating habits and I played outside a lot as a kid. Once I was old enough to work, I got a job as a waiter at a restaurant and kept waiting tables throughout high school and college. After college, I got my very first desk job, and my health started declining. I soon realized that even though I had never stepped foot in a gym, I was living a sedentary lifestyle for the first time in my life. I wasn't getting exercise playing outside or running around at work, so I decided to commit to going to the gym. My health began to improve and I now greatly enjoy bodybuilding. I know many other people are in ill health and can't figure out why, so I decided to start a blog to share my health tips and inspire everyone improve their health!
