Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 6, 2026
11:38
Voluntary Breath-hold Technique for Reducing Heart Dose in Left Breast Radiotherapy
Published on: July 3, 2014
Radiation as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease
John E Baker1, John E Moulder, John W Hopewell
1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. jbaker@mcw.edu
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
|November 25, 2010
Summary
Medical radiation exposure, including from imaging, is increasing. This review links low-to-moderate radiation doses to cardiovascular disease risk, highlighting the need for further research into radiation-induced heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Radiation Oncology
- Public Health
Background:
- Background radiation and medical procedures contribute to increasing individual radiation doses.
- Medical imaging procedures are a primary driver of the rise in radiation exposure.
- Radiation exposure is a known risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, even at lower doses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review various sources of radiation exposure.
- To examine the association between radiation exposure and cardiovascular disease risk.
- To identify knowledge gaps in understanding and managing radiation-induced cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on radiation sources and cardiovascular outcomes.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on radiation exposure and disease incidence.
- Synthesis of evidence linking low-to-moderate and high radiation doses to cardiovascular disease.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests an association between low-to-moderate radiation exposure and cardiovascular disease.
- The risk of cardiovascular disease following radiation exposure is observed long after exposure.
- Sources reviewed include atomic bombs, medical imaging, cancer treatment, and space exploration.
Conclusions:
- Further studies are required to quantify the cardiovascular risks from diagnostic and therapeutic radiation.
- Understanding the mechanisms of radiation-induced cardiovascular disease is crucial.
- Strategies for mitigation and treatment of radiation-induced cardiovascular disease need development.
Related Concept Videos
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they produce ions...
01:35Mutations
Mutations are changes in the sequence of DNA. These changes can occur spontaneously or they can be induced by exposure to environmental factors. Mutations can be characterized in a number of different ways: whether and how they alter the amino acid sequence of the protein, whether they occur over a small or large area of DNA, and whether they occur in somatic cells or germline cells.
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
01:39Mutations
Overview
02:59Cancer Prevention
Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
Some...
01:20Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
The most common cardiovascular diagnostic test is an X-ray. It produces images of the heart, blood vessels, and adjacent structures.
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
01:12Relative Risk
Relative risk (RR) is a statistical measure commonly used in epidemiology to compare the likelihood of a particular event occurring between two groups. This metric is important for evaluating the relationship between exposure to a specific risk factor and the probability of a particular outcome. It plays a crucial role in medical research, public health studies, and risk assessment. Relative risk quantifies how much more (or less) likely an event is to occur in an exposed group compared to an...