Low dose radioactivity in medicine

Natural therapies also help
Radiology, that is the doctrine of rays, is today an indispensable part of medicine. Modern diagnostic equipment such as x-rays, CT or MRI help doctors to recognize diseases properly, special radiation therapies cure, for example, cancers. In addition, there are therapies with low-dose radiation, which are used in numerous chronic inflammatory and degenerative diseases. It is available on the one hand in the form of so-called stimulus radiation, on the other hand also in natural form. The latter is known as so-called radon heat therapy, in which patients use a naturally occurring climate, for example in former mines in the form of a cure.
"In all forms of radioactive therapies, as with other medical therapeutic procedures, advantages and disadvantages must be weighed," explains Univ.-Doz. Dr. Bertram Hölzl, scientific director of the Gasteiner Heilstollen. "Instead of the low-dose radioactive therapies that relieve, for example, severe chronic pain, the pain patient is otherwise about to take medication for years. This is a substantial health risk due to the sometimes severe side effects. "

The total doses used, for example in the case of stimulus radiation and in natural radon heat therapy are significantly lower than those used in the treatment of cancers. So no tissue cells are killed, but the medical effect is based on a reduction in the activity of leukocytes and progenitor cells of the connective tissue and the reduction of the release of cytokines. This inhibits acute and chronic inflammatory processes. Irritant radiation benefits, for example, patients with heel spurs, tennis elbow, shoulder pain or arthrosis. The response rates are 50 to 70%.

The Radonwärmetherapie usually takes place in the form of a cure in former mines. Patients travel to the Radonthermalstollen several times by train and spend about one hour on the therapy stations. Here, the noble gas radon naturally exits the rock and is absorbed through the skin and lungs. In addition, there is a tropical climate, with heat and high humidity. "The natural remedy radon stimulates the body's own cell repair and reduces the activity of painkillers. The less active they are, the less patients experience pain " Hölzl the effect.

"The pain relief up to the complete complaint freedom lasts up to nine months." Especially patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis, polyarthritis, psoriatic arthritis and patients with chronic degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system or fibromyalgia achieve with the Radonwärmetherapie particularly good effects. Health insurance companies often pay for the therapy costs. (Pm)