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Radiation Dose Comparison

Diagnostic Procedure
 Typical Effective Dose (mSv)1
 Number of Chest X-rays for Equivalent Dose2
 Time Period for Equivalent Dose from Natural Background Radiation3
Chest X-ray (PA film)
 0.02
 1
 2.4 days
Skull X-ray
 0.07
 4
 8.5 days
Lumbar Spine
 1.3
 65
 158 days
IV urogram
 2.5
 125
 304 days
Upper GI exam
 3.0
 150
 1.0 year
Barium enema
 7.0
 350
 2.3 years
CT scan (head)
 2.0
 100
 243 days
CT scan (abdomen)
 10.0
 500
 3.3 years
1. Effect dose in millisieverts (mSv).
2. Assumes an average "effective dose" from chest X-ray (PA film) of 0.02 mSv.
3. Assumes an annual average "effective dose " from natural background radiation of 3 mSv in the US.

Source: European Commission, Radiation Protection Report 118,
"Referral guidelines for imaging." Directorate-General for the Environment of The European Commission; 2000.

Low-cholesterol diet

This is the original diet in the first scientific study:
One-Day Menu Plan for a 2,000 kcal Diet
   Menu with alternatives (superscript footnotes) provided on other days
  Breakfast   Snack Lunch
35 g Oat bran
150 g Orange 1
7g Metamucil 9
33 g Oatbran bread
8g Margarine 10
18 g Double fruit jam
250 g Soy milk
14 g Almonds
250 g Soy milk
65 g Vegitarian chili 5
67 g Oatbran bread
17 g Margarine
62 g Soy deli slices 6
80 g Tomato
150 g Orange 1
Snack Dinner Snack
14 g Almonds
7g Metamucil
250 g Soy milk
295 g Vegetable curry 7
85 g Soy burger 8
80g Northern beans 3
35 g Barley 4
100 g Okra
200 g Eggplant
200 g Cauliflower 2
80 g Onions
60 g Red pepper
175 g Soyagurt
7g Metamucil
10 g Double-fruit jam

1 Fruit alternatives: apple, pear
2 Vegetable alternatives: broccoli, carrot
3 Legume alternatives (canned): kidney bean, lentils, chickpeas
4 Four times a week
5 Lunch, soup alternatives: Lentil with curry, vegetable barley, black bean, ministrone and pasta
6 Lunch, soy alternative: hot dogs
7 Dinner, frozen meal (4 times a week) alternative: 3-bean chili
8 Dinner, soy alternatives: ground soy, tofu
9 Taken each time in 250 ml of water
10 Plant sterol margarine

Advice to avoid heart burn and reflux

AVOID THESE:

  1. Acids: Vinegar, citrus fruits
  2. Aspirin (including Alka-Seltzer, Motrin, Advil, Nuprin)
  3. Alcohol
  4. Caffeine (including coffee, tea, cola, chocolate)
  5. Nicotine - Don't smoke!
  6. Skipped meals
  7. Tight belts, waistbands, or lying down or running right after meals

DO THESE:

  1. Nothing to eat within two hours of bedtime
  2. Raise head of bed about 6 inches (use bricks or 2x4 boards under bed legs)
  3. Antacids (such as Maalox or Mylanta) - two tablespoons after each meal
  4. Don't drink fluids with meals