PETER'S PRINCIPLES - November 18, 2007
Mark from Troy emails and says his doctor told him he needed to get a colonoscopy and he heard something about a virtual colonoscopy. Is there such a thing?
Mark, there is something called a virtual colonoscopy and it may be closer to becoming a regular testing tool.
Two of the largest studies yet show the virtual colonoscopy works just as well at spotting potentially cancerous growths as the traditional test. In a traditional colonoscopy a long, thin tube is inserted through the large intestine and is often done under sedation and can be uncomfortable. The virtual colonoscopy uses a CT scan to take x-rays of the colon. It is said to be faster and more comfortable.
Colonoscopies are recommended for everyone over age 50. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death.
Maria from Belleville emails. She suffered a mini stroke and wonders how she can prevent having another stroke in the future.
Maria, two major studies discovered treating patients quickly for mini-strokes could dramatically cut their risk of a major stroke.
Researchers studied nearly 100,000 people for vascular disease. They found those patients treated within 24 hours of having a mini stroke cut their chances of having a more serious stroke in the next few months by 80%!
Experts are now pushing health care providers to change the way they treat strokes to respond to victims more quickly. Nearly 15,000,000 people across the world have a stroke every year.
