Published in January 14th, 2009
Advertisements
As a person gets older, depending on their overall health as well as their genetic background, their body might become considerably weaker than it used to be. Some medical procedures that are necessary to the health of an elderly person can thus become almost too invasive.
However, medical technology has now advanced so that the virtual colonoscopy is now a procedure that is available for the elderly. Middle aged people can also benefit from getting a virtual colonoscopy. In order to understand how this procedure works, it is important to understand what the colon is, and why it is important to have it checked.
The colon is also known as the small intestine. Each time a person eats, the colon is the last place that the food is processed through. Some kinds of food, like meat, can weaken the colon over time. So, after half a lifetime of eating those kinds of foods, it is important for those whoa re fifty years of age and over to have their colon checked. The risk of getting colon cancer is considerably increased with the onset of middle age as well.
So, what is a virtual colonoscopy? It is a procedure that is minimally invasive, providing the doctor with a three dimensional view of the colon. The original colonoscopy involved a long tube with a camera attached to it being placed up the rectum. For some older people, this original procedure was just too much for them, so perforation of the colon sometimes happened.
What is the process behind the virtual colonoscopy? A couple of days before the procedure, the patient will be instructed to only eat certain kinds of food, such as broths. Food like meat and white bread will be avoided, because both are foods that have a tendency to stay in the colon. The night before the procedure, the patient will also be given a special drink that will completely clean out the colon.
On the day of the procedure, the patient will need to show up wearing comfortable clothing that is free from any metal. This means that there should be no metal buttons, zippers, chains, or anything else of that nature. Hearing aids and glasses are also discouraged. If the patient does not happen to have any clothing that is free from metal, then a medical gown will be provided for the patient to wear during the procedure.
The patient will then be positioned on an examining table, and a small plastic tube, attached to a camera for the scanner, will be placed about two inches into the rectum. Some air will then be infused through the tube so that the scanner can pick up all the details of the colon without any folds occurring.
Then, the scanner will make several passes, during which the patient might be asked to assume a couple of positions. While the scanner is passing over the body, the patient will be asked to remain as still as possible. The overall procedure will take about fifteen minutes to complete, after which the patient is usually able to resume daily activities.
more information on
'http://www.scandirectory.com/content/virtual_colonoscapy.asp'>virtual colonoscopy, 'http://www.scandirectory.com/content/eb_ct_angiography.asp'>ct angiography treatments and a 'http://www.scandirectory.com'>body scan clinic in your area is just a click away.
Related posts:
- Why a CT Scan is Very Important You definitely did not see that other car coming. It was dark, and you were tired after a long day at the office. It certainly did not help that the other car did not have its lights turned on. In just a moment, your car had been broadsided, and you were left with a head [...]...
- How Safe Is Lasik Eye Surgery In The Elderly Years ? It’s a pretty well-established fact that most people experience a decline in the quality of their vision when they hit their forties. And, with a very large population of baby boomers now in their forties and above, the demand for corrective eye surgery to help improve these common vision problems has been on the rise. [...]...
- Health And Depression In The Elderly Having lived a happy life full of meaning and purpose, why would an elderly person become chronically depressed? Besides learning the causes of the depression, are there things we can learn about that will remedy this type of depression in senior citizens? The answer is an emphatic Yes! The medical community deals with people in [...]...
- Food Safety for the Elderly Age increases risk for food borne illness due to lowered stomach acid weakened immune systems reduced sense of smell Foods safety precautions when handling preparing cooking storing food for seniors http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC3642.htm” rel=”nofollowVisit website...
- The Pleasant Side of Colonics Some people may shrug off the idea of getting a thorough colonic cleansing treatment with the mere thought of having a tube inserted in the rectum and have gallons of water pumped into the colon. Additionally, this invasive procedure involves removing smelly filth from the colon, which is typically embarrassing. The procedure is done in [...]...
- Elliptical Trainer Exercising For Elderly Regular exercising prolongs life, decreases chance of heart disease, improves immune system and builds up enough energy for you to lead an active life. No doubt that exercising is beneficial, but when you come to certain years, your running routine is not what it used to be. Professional runners have problems with knee and joint [...]...
- Buy a Home Colonic Kit? Or Go to a Trained Colonic ... An unhealthy lifestyle puts too much stress on the vital organs responsible for purification and elimination which include the stomach, liver, pancreas, colon, and the kidneys. These are all overburdened when too much toxins from the environment, processed foods, alcoholic drinks, and cigarettes are absorbed and proliferates in the body. The colon is responsible for [...]...
- Colon Cleanse – 5 Colon Cleansing Methods The colon is a repository of waste material in our bodies. It is important to regularly cleanse it to avoid serious diseases. Now there are a number of methods that you can adopt as part of your cleansing regimen. Some are natural and can be as simple as altering eating habits while some involve rather [...]...
- Why It Is Important To Keep Your Colon Clean? It is a sad but undeniable fact that most people generally try to ignore issues with their body until they experience a problem. It is a known fact that prevention in form of being informed and educated about health issues and recurring annual doctor visits can cut down on many medial situations. One of the [...]...
- Colon Cleanse – A Healthy Diet For Colon Cleansing One of the factors that may cause damage to the colon is a person’s diet. The choice that one makes with regards to dietary consumption makes a difference in the overall productivity of the digestive system. Most people don’t realize it, but most of the foods that we eat can have harmful effects to the [...]...
Previous post:
«
Breast Augmentation Can Give Women Confidence In Their ...Next post: Massage Therapy Types – Deep Tissue, Trigger Point and ... »