Ct angiogram with contrast

This is strictly a personal decision, and I'm afraid it's entirely yours. Maybe to help put it all into perspective, I can offer my own example of radiation exposure, and I'm doing pretty well at 74 with no particular markers of ill health, unless you count my expanded girth in recent years.

I lived at 14000' above sea level in Peru's Andes for nine years as a young fella. We received a lot more radiation at that altitude than most on the planet, certainly more than city dwellers who are in transit or indoors mostly all their lives, and below 5000' generally, often well below that. Then, I have had dental and chest X-rays. I developed atrial fibrillation eight years ago and began a series of diagnostics to see if I were a good candidate for a catheter ablation procedure. To rule out other things like ischemia and related problems like atherosclerosis, things that would make his work moot or fail unless they were corrected ahead of time, I have had to MIBI tests, with radio-opaque dye for contrast, with the two CT scans per MIBI. More chest x-rays, MRI, angiogram with fluoroscopy, and then two ablations, also with fluoroscopy (the first ablation failed to close a small gap in the lesions made during the scarrification process around the pulmonary vein ostia). Not to put too fine a point on it, but those two MIBI tests were each worth about 500 chest X-rays. !!!!! Two of 'em. Five years apart. And I'm still here.

I learned during the angiogram and MIBI that I don't have ischemia, and with that verdict my electrophysiologist said he'd be happy to try to correct my heart's rhythm. And I am free of that horrid arrhythmia going on 38 months now. What relief!

You could be there as well, no MIBI, no ablations, no chest X-rays (probably..?), and only 12 minutes worth of fluoroscopy. I dunno...I would to it in a heartbeat.

Suggest you call the location where you would get the CTA Angiogram and ask them about any radiation risk.
Some have latest equipment that has very low radiation. I am due for a CTA scan in a week and spoke to the radiologist at the hospital where it will be done. The radiologist said the equipment was new and that the radiation level was so low, you could have one done every day for a month.

@ewei6911 thank you for your answer and I will call. Any thoughts about the iodine dye safety ?

Sorry, no.

https://biologyinsights.com/what-is-the-dye-used-in-ct-scans/

@gloaming great info ! Thanks for taking the time

How else can docs diagnose shortness of breath ?

@nycmusic if you have any kidney issues, they can use a different contrast….my experience is to take a zofran 1 hour before the CT ,as the drink isn’t especially nice…and hydrate extra the day before, the day of and the day after- much better for the body to flush out the contrast.

@nycmusic They can try an MRI or an echocardiogram. Results may not be as accurate.

@ewei6911
2 years ago my Gastroenterologist ordered a CTA scan with contrast ... prior to the scan I tried to research it learn what to expect. None of the sites commented on the various types of CONTRAST used. & None mentioned ISOVUE or its' side-effects. (& so For Me it turned out to be: "Hindsight = 20/20"! )
Within less than 24 hr.'s after the scan my body began reacting ... those initial Side Effects lasted 5 days ... Little Did I Know - that was just for Openers. Since that CTA (2 years ago) approx. every 3-6 weeks I have Long-Term side effects ... turns out, more networking sounds as if this could go on INDEFINITELY!
Over the past 2 years I've found 3 other people who had CTA's using ISOVUE & are also Dealing with long term side-effects. The tech will insert a catheter Before starting the Scan. I suggest you ASK what kind of contrast they'll be using. If it's ISOVUE, My advice: 'Don't Risk it, Ask For a different contrast - NO ISOVUE'. Just as an FYU they may say something like "Oh, It's Safe", or "We're using the Lowest strength." (Don't Chance It) "It comes in 4 strengths: 200, 260, 300, & 370! We'll use a lower one." (I was given 370 = the max., now I'm Asking WHY? I'm 5'3" & weigh 126#'s). I asked the Gastro. Why I was given 370, the strongest dosage? ... he shrugged his shoulders & said "the choice was up to the Tech who administered the CTA."
I've since learned, in our area there's a large number of patients who're also dealing with Long-term Isovue Problems. They've networked & hired a Lawyer to file Law Suit against both "Isovue Drug Manufacturers & against the Hospital that administered the Isovue".
Word of Advice ... Don't take a chance ... if the Tech tells you ISOVUE, Refuse it & ask for a different contrast, they Should Have a number of Other Contrast options in their arsenal.
Best of Luck with you. (Sure Hope I've helped You avoid a Long-Term Problem)