What is an ultrasound?
Ultrasound exams use sound waves to create images of organs, tissues, and structures, allowing non-surgical access for healthcare practitioners. They produce real-time images or videos of internal organs and soft tissues, without radiation like X-rays.
How does an ultrasound work?
A transducer, often
known as a probe, is a device that a medical professional uses to scan a part
of your body or an entrance into your body. For the ultrasonic waves to go from
the transducer through the gel and into your body, the provider applies a small
coating of gel to your skin.
The probe emits high-frequency sound waves into
the tissue of your body by converting electrical current into those waves.
Sound waves are not audible to you.
Your body's internal components reflect sound
waves, which return to the probe where they are converted into electrical
impulses. The electrical signal pattern is then transformed by a computer into
real-time pictures or films, which are shown on a nearby computer screen.
Are ultrasonography procedures painful?
External ultrasounds, or those that are applied to your
skin, often don't hurt. The sound waves that ultrasonography utilizes won't be
felt by you. It might be discomfort if the operation requires you to have a
full bladder. If you're pregnant, lying on the test table might not be pleasant
for you.
Internal bodily cavities, such as your vagina or rectum,
can experience discomfort during an ultrasound, but overall, it shouldn't hurt.
Do they carry any risks?
No, most studies
conducted to now have demonstrated that ultrasonography is safe and has no
negative side effects. Unlike certain other medical imaging procedures,
including CT scans and X-rays, ultrasounds don't involve radiation.
Ultrasound technology revolutionizes medicine by providing non-invasive, real-time insights for diagnosis and therapies, enhancing accuracy and patient care through innovation and deep understanding of the human body.
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References
professional, C.C. medical (no
date) Ultrasound: What it is, purpose, procedure & results, Cleveland
Clinic. Available at:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/4995-ultrasound (Accessed: 25
February 2024).
Ultrasound (2022) Mayo Clinic.
Available at:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ultrasound/about/pac-20395177
(Accessed: 25 February 2024).
Ultrasound (no date) National
Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. Available at:
https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/ultrasound#pid-931
(Accessed: 25 February 2024).
Ultrasound: Medlineplus medical test (no date) MedlinePlus. Available at:
https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/sonogram/ (Accessed: 25 February 2024).
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