How does smoker's lungs look like on x-ray and why?
X-ray penetrates through the tissue and hits the film to damage it. If the X-ray is absorbed by some kind of obstacle, it hits the film less and damages less. Water is an obstacle, tissue is an obstacle, metals are very strong obstacles (even Calcium in bones) which prevents X-ray from damaging the film.Later, when the film is developed, undamaged areas become white and damaged places are observed as black.When you are a smoker, you have conditions like chronic bronchitis, which causes swelling in lung tissues. It means, more X-ray is absorbed, eventually causing your lungs appear more whitish, when compared to a healthy lung with tiny walls of tissues and big air gaps that appear more black.Even if you are not smoking, you may have similar patterns due to a variety of reasons causing inflammation or other changes in your lungs. And to note, it is observed that passive smokers may have as bad lungs as active smokers. So, in fact smoking in common areas must be accepted a serious crime for intentionally giving harm to other people; but unfortunately, there are not enough regulations yet.
I have to have a barium swallow test done soon. Has anyone ever had this test?
The Barium tastes awful and can be hard to flush from your system (if you know what I mean). Just let the people who are performing this on you (speech pathologist or radiographer) which foods you have a phobia of, they can generally apply the barium to almost any food - providing it is the consistency that they are testing you for e.g. liquid, puree, mince/mash or normal diet. It may be awful but the knowledge they gain from this is almost certainly vital for your health and well-being... or they wouldn't put you through it as well as exposing you to unnecessary x-ray radiation. Good luck! And chin up!
Toddler swallowing a nickel?
Accidental swallowing of small objects, including coins, is common among young children. In some cases, the coin will lodge in the esophagus. This may lead to complete obstruction, making it impossible for the child to swallow saliva and posing a risk of perforation of the esophagus. In such cases, doctors immediately remove the coin using a tube called an endoscope. However, most often, the coin safely passes through the esophagus after it is swallowed. In these cases, it is the size of the coin that determines how the situation is handled. The most common sites of obstruction are the pylorus (the opening that connects the stomach to the upper intestine, or duodenum) and the ileocecal valve (the connection between the small intestine and the large intestine). It has been shown that objects smaller than 2.5cm (one inch) in diameter usually pass from the stomach and through the small intestine, colon and rectum without complications. Doctors typically monitor the passage of the object through a series of X-rays. A quarter is less than 2.5 centimeters in diameter, thus any coin of this size or smaller can be watched and not immediately removed. Endoscopic removal from the stomach should be attempted if the coin stays in the stomach for three weeks, as it is unlikely to pass if it has not done so in that time. The reasoning behind this policy relates to the risks and benefits of endoscopy. Before three weeks have passed, the risks of the procedure (including sedation and the removal of the object) outweigh the benefits of removing the coin. Keep in mind that even after the coin passes beyond the stomach, it can still cause problems in the small intestine or colon. If it is not advancing in the small intestine for two straight weeks, then surgical removal is strongly considered (endoscopy cannot reach most of the small intestine). Also, if the coin stays in the colon for three weeks, endoscopic (colonoscopic) removal would also be indicated. If signs of intestinal obstruction occur (severe abdominal pain, distention or fever) then urgent surgical intervention is usually necessary.
Any women ever had a kidney stone?
How old were you and how badly did it hurt? I had one (I'm 27) and it was absolutely the most unbearable pain I've ever experienced in my life. First thing they did in the ER after taking some blood was give me morphine!