Obesity taking toll on x-ray machines
Aug 9, 2006
The rising rate of obesity is taking its toll on the nation's x-ray machines and making it difficult for doctors to diagnose illnesses.
Twenty percent of adults are now obese and while new imaging equipment is being built to cater for larger patients, the cost means many hospitals are having to get by with older equipment.
Director of radiology at Auckland Hospital, Dr Alan List, says it is more difficult to get good images of overweight patients because the radiation needs to be applied for longer to get through the extra fat.
He says this takes a toll on machines such as the CT scanner which can over-heat and also makes it harder for doctors to diagnose patients.
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