Radioactivity becomes a tool for health at. f by Harriett Fjaagesund Terrace’s Mills Memorial Hospi- tal will soon be getting a powerful . new diagnostic tool with a decep- tively fearsome name. Nuclear medicine — it’s not neasly as threatening as it sounds, . and involves the use of radioactive compounds called radiopharma- ceuticals. These compounds, or isotopes, are a natural radioactive source with extremely low levels of radiation. Nuclear medicine is used to diagnose and treat a wide varicty of diseases and disorders, and is no more dangerous than having an X-- ray. The patient is given a radio- active compound, either by intra- venous injection, swallowing. or inhalation. Only elements” that are normally found in the body are. used. The procedure, which is completely painless, allows the physician to diagnose disease earlier to make treatment more effective. The radioactive com- pound is flushed from the body within a matter of hours. The compound travels through the body and emits gamma rays, which are then picked up as flashes of light by a gamma cam- era. With the use of a computer an image, or movie, is created which shows the target organ in action. Different compounds are used, FOR HEALTH by Rose Dreger "Did you know... A public service feature by the Skeena Health Unit Did you know that ‘influenza’ is an illness that changes from year to year? The “‘flu”’ is one of the common illnesses associated with our Canadian fall and winter. In 1989 the largest number of cases of influenza were seen in B.C. in the middle of December. Influenza is caused by a virus. There is no specific treatment for it. For most of us, having the flu is not too serious. Rest, plenty of fluids and medication help to ease the fever, aches and pains. Although we may feel more tired for awhile, we do recover completely. We build up a natural immunity to the virus that caused the illness. However, there are people who may develop serious complica- tions from the flu, or who are not healthy enough to cope with the flu. The following groups of people are at risk for complica- tions: 1. adults and children who already have heart or lung disorders (e.g. asthma, emphysema) 2, residents of chronic care facilities ' 3, persons over 65 years of age 4, adults and children with diabetes, cancer, immune deficiency diseases, blood disorders, or kidney disease. 5. children and teenagers treated for long periods with aspirin. In addition, those people who have extensive contact with high risk groups, such as workers in chronic care facilities, should be protected from the flu. Every year a vaccine is developed to protect those individuals likely to suffer complications from the flu. The vaccine is dif- ~ MMH depending: on what. organ . the physician wants to'study. Indepen- dent blood work can also be done by taking a blood sample and. | combining it with the radioactive material. Nuclear medicine has. often been associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, but cancer is only one small area where it is used. Thyroid disorders and bone scans are examples of two other areas where. nuclear . medicine is useful. Nuclear medicine is by no means a new invention; it’s been around for about 25 years. Before the “gamma camera and specialized computers, geiger counters were used to track the compounds through the body. New technology has refined the radioactive com- pounds since those early days; purity is very good. There has never been a recorded action of danger. No special clothing need be worn by either patient or hos- pital staff. The nearest nuclear medicine facilities for the north have been Fort St. John and Prince George, but Mills Memorial administrator Michael Leisinger says the hospital hopes to have their own depart- ment open for business Nov. 12, and that they should be able to handie approximately 2,500 patients a year. About once a.week, the. radio-_ active material, called a generator, will be shipped to the hospital from Ontario in a lead box. A lead box is used, not because the - material is particularly dangerous, but because Canadian Jaw requires it as an added safety measure. Leisinger added that a local recyc- ling company will be recycling the boxes. The generator consists of a mother element which breaks down into what is called a daugh- ter, and it is this part which is used in the detection process. r EVERYONE WELCOME! ‘ie Terrace Review — Wednesday, October 17, 1990 B7 This sensitive piece of equipment is one of the latest and most sophisticated instruments in the diagnostic arsenal at Mills Memorial Hospital. In conjunction with trace amounts of radioactive material introduced into the patient's bloodstream, it allows physicians to take detailed locks at the intemal workings of body organs. Come in for a glass of cheer and our . saurkraut SPECIAL during Oktoberfest, Oct. 17th - 21st. Don’t forget our Friday night dinner special from 5 p.m. ‘Saurbraten ¢Potato dumplings *Red cabbage Talented? Join our talent nights, _ starting October 26th rt Thornhill Neighbourhood Pub 2587 Thornhill St. Thornhill (Age 14 years and up) ferent each year, because the strains of influenza virus are likely to be different. The Canadian vaccine is the one recommended by the World Health Organization. The vaccine is made up of three strains of virus, and would protect an individual from any one of the three viruses. The viruses are inactivated so that they are unable to cause influenza, but are able to stimulate the body to » produce antibodies. There is a separate vaccine for children under 13 years of age that is less likely to cause side effects. Influenza vaccine is safe for most people. Only those who have severe reactions after eating eggs should not be given influenza vaccine. If you are on regular medications, check with your doc- tor before having the influenza vaccine. 7 Most people have little or no reaction to the vaccine. There may be some tenderness in the arm muscle where the injection is - & given. In the first day or two after vaccination, you may develop ae a fever and muscle aches, and may feel generally unwell. You should seek medical care if needed, and let the health unit know about your reaction, if you feel it is severe. It is still possible to get the flu after being vaccinated, but the illness would be milder. ~The health unit receives vaccine in the fall to protect people in the high risk groups. Clinics are held in all parts of the health unit in late September, October and November. Please call your local health unit office for an appointment. oS _ ‘Do you have any questions or concerns? Please write us at: Lucky Dollar Palace 4818 Highway 16 West *: DOORS OPEN AT 4:30 P.M. SUNDAY: Terrace Athletics Association MONDAY: Terrace Minor Hockey (First three Mondays of every month) Terrace Minor Baseball (Remaining Mondays of . every month) TUESDAY: Kermode Friendship Society WEDNESDAY: Terrace Blue Back Swim Club Terrace Peaks Gymnastics THURSDAY: Sponsoring Comm. to 747 Cadets Order of the Royal Purple EARLY FRIDAY: Canadian Paraplegic Association LATE FRIDAY: Nisga’a Tribal Council (Terrace Local} SATURDAY: Canadian Parents For French — Morning Terrace Soccer Association - (Alternate) B.C. Paraplegic Foundation — Evening LATE NIGHT: Kinsmen Club of Terrace Extra Regular “(Did You Know That...” Terrace Figure Skating Club - (Alternate) Games Skeena Health Unit a 7 3412 Kalum Street a a _ Thank you! Have a Nice day! | | . Terrace, B.C., V8G 4T2