Is it safe to be a nuclear medicine technologist?
As a result, cumulative doses to nuclear medicine technologists are expected to have increased. We hypothesize that certified nuclear medicine technologists may experience higher risks of some radiation-related cancers and other adverse health outcomes compared to most other medical specialty groups.
What are the benefits of being a nuclear medicine technologist?
Pros of nuclear medicine
- Steady employment. The number of nuclear medicine technologist jobs is expected to grow 19% over the next decade.
- Good salary.
- Ability to work with many different fields of medicine.
- Knowledge that your studies make a real difference to the overall care of your patients.
What are the risks of a nuclear stress test?
As with any medical procedure, there is a risk of complications, including:
- Allergic reaction. Though rare, you could be allergic to the radioactive dye that’s injected during a nuclear stress test.
- Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
- Heart attack (myocardial infarction).
- Dizziness or chest pain.
- Low blood pressure.
Can you pass a stress test and still have blockage?
Stress tests can detect when arteries have 70% or more blockage. This severe narrowing is what causes the severe chest pain called angina. But normal results from a stress test do not rule out the possibility of a future heart attack. This is because a plaque can still rupture, form clots and block an artery.
What percent of blockage requires a stent?
By clinical guidelines, an artery should be clogged at least 70 percent before a stent should be placed, Resar said. “A 50 percent blockage doesn’t need to be stented,” he said.
How many years does a stent last?
Stents will last forever if they are made of some sort of metal as most are. There is a new product on the market, a new heart stent that dissolves in the artery three years after being implanted. It is yet to be used in clinically, and it will be a while (years) before its risks & benefits will be known.