MRIs and CT scans for asymptomatic people
There’s no data to suggest whole-body images of healthy patients lowers morbidity or mortality, according to the American College of Preventive Medicine. “In fact, the risk of false positives and subsequent care protocols, including radiation and invasive diagnostic intervention, make scanning asymptomatic patients a costly and potentially harmful practice without any clear benefit,” the group says. If you’re suffering from, say, chronic lower back pain, it’s not a good idea to have a CT scan unless there are other red flag symptoms.
