This is the Danger of Nuclear Radiation for Health

Nuclear radiation is widely used medically to treat and diagnose diseases. But if someone is too often exposed to nuclear radiation, then the impact can be dangerous. Various effects that can be caused from this radiation exposure, ranging from poisoning, growth and development disorders, cancer, to death. Radiation is energy that is emitted in the form of particles or waves. Radiation is divided into two types, namely ionizing radiation (large dose radiation) and non-ionizing radiation (low dose radiation). The type of radiation that is at high risk of causing health problems is ionizing radiation. One can be exposed to this type of nuclear radiation from nuclear energy transmitting machines, such as on CT scans and X-rays, or through nuclear bomb explosions and nuclear reactor leaks.

Bad Impact of Nuclear Radiation for Health

The human body is exposed to large doses of nuclear radiation will experience acute radiation syndrome (ARS) or radiation poisoning that can lead to death. The severity and symptoms that arise depend on how much nuclear radiation is absorbed by the body. The amount of radiation absorption depends on the strength of the radiation energy and body distance from the radiation source. Signs and symptoms of nuclear radiation poisoning may not appear immediately when the body is exposed to large amounts of nuclear radiation. Symptoms may only appear within a few hours, up to weeks after exposure to radiation. Symptoms that can occur when a person experiences nuclear radiation poisoning are:

• Digestive disorders, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
• Headache.
• Fever.
• Dizzy.
• Fatigue.
• Hair loss.
• Vomiting blood.
• Wounds, blisters, and inflammation in various parts of the body, such as the mouth, lips, intestines, esophagus, and skin.

Cases of nuclear radiation began to boom since the atomic bomb blasts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan. Even more devastating was when the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine exploded and devastated the city. Damaged nuclear reactors release radioactive iodine and cesum. The material is believed to have caused hundreds of thousands of Chernobyl nuclear power plant workers to die, either during the incident or due to nuclear radiation which arose after the incident. The adverse effects of nuclear radiation on body health include:

1. Destruction of body cells

High doses of nuclear radiation energy can cause body cells to damage, causing various complications. The areas of the body most vulnerable to damage due to exposure to high-dose nuclear radiation are the stomach, intestine, mouth, blood vessels, and cells that produce blood in the bone marrow. Damage that occurs in the bone marrow will result in the body not being able to fight infection or disease. When this happens, nuclear radiation is at high risk of taking lives.

2. Cancer

Many studies have shown that people who are often exposed to nuclear radiation, especially children and young adults, are at greater risk of developing cancer. Some of these cancers are blood cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and brain cancer.

3. Disorders of child growth and development

The effects of nuclear radiation also adversely affect children's development, especially the development of the brain and nerves. Exposure to nuclear radiation to the fetus can cause babies born with disabilities, both physical and mental disabilities.

4. Damage to skin tissue

The adverse effects of nuclear radiation can also cause damage to skin tissue. People who are exposed to high doses of nuclear radiation will experience burning skin, blisters and sores, even skin cancer. Nuclear radiation can also damage skin cells on the head to cause hair loss and permanent baldness.

Management of Nuclear Radiation Diseases

The goal of treating nuclear radiation is to prevent further radioactive contamination and alleviate the symptoms that arise, such as injuries, injuries, and pain in the body of people with nuclear radiation disease. After exposure to nuclear radiation, be sure to remove all clothing attached to the body to prevent additional contamination, and immediately wash the affected body part or skin with soap and water. To treat a damaged bone marrow, the doctor will provide drugs that work by stimulating and increasing the number of white blood cells to counteract the effects of radiation on the bone marrow. In addition, doctors may also provide blood transfusions to replace lost blood cells, or even do bone marrow transplants. The impact of exposure to nuclear radiation in high doses is very deadly. But this rarely happens in regions or countries that do not use much nuclear power as a source of electricity. If you feel that you are exposed to large amounts of nuclear radiation, seek medical help at the nearest hospital immediately.