Radiation Exposure and Heart Disease

Most of us receive exposure to radiation on a daily basis. But did you know that exposure actually increases the risk for heart disease as well? This is among people exposed to low-dose radiation for long term or high dose for short-term according to a study published in the March issue of the International Journal of Epidemiology.

The study examined the health of 65,000 workers working between the years of 1946 and 2002 at 4 separate nuclear plants operated by British Nuclear Fuels plc and its predecessors. This study, conducted by Steve Jones and collegues at Westlakes Scientific Consulting looked at non-cancer death rates and cumulative radiation exposure using the worker's personal dosimeter badges. Findings revealed that those exposed to relatively higher doses were at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

The effects of radiation on heart disease should not be a surprise to anyone who has followed reports and studies done about the effects of radiation on the body. Another finding by John Gofman, a famous nuclear physician discovered that 75 percent of breast cancers are connected to exposure to medical x-ray (which includes mammograms), also stated years ago that radiation causes damage to arteries and blood vessels, which perpetuates heart disease. Breast cancer radiation also raises the risk of heart disease as well, as reported by BMC Cancer.

The bottom line is, living a healthy lifestyle is critical to avoid both the need for medical procedures which use radiation and avoiding other unnecessary exposure to radiation. Things to avoid include x-rays, mammograms, CT scans, and reduce the amount you use or are exposed to devices which emit radiation such as microwaves, cell phones, televisions, wireless devices, and other related equiment.