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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Heart Disorders?

I have an 82 yr old Father in law. In very good health for his age no major problems. BUT always a but he has heart problems pace maker degenerative prolems. My question is . could his problems be linked to his being a "atomic solder" he was in the Navy during the atomic testing of the late 50's early 60's.
Tue, 30 Jan 2018
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello and thank you for choosing HCM for your questions!

My answer to your question is as follows: in principle no, but one can not exclude totally the effect of atomic radiation in degenerative problems your father-in-law is facing. The effect of atomic radiation on health is heavily dose-dependent and, except for DNA impairment and cancer, other health effects are quite quickly manifested. I doubt that your father-in-law has been exposed to extremely or high doses of radiation when he was in the navy during '50s-'60s and in such a case the probability that the radiation might have caused degenerative heart problems is very very low. For example, numerous studies have assessed the association between radiation dose early in life and degenerative problems in various organs of the body later in life among atomic bomb survivors, and mainly have not found such associations, even though the average radiation dose was higher than the safe level.
In this context, I think that the heart problems of your father-in-law are caused mainly due to the aging effect.
Thank you and good luck.
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What Causes Heart Disorders?

Hello and thank you for choosing HCM for your questions! My answer to your question is as follows: in principle no, but one can not exclude totally the effect of atomic radiation in degenerative problems your father-in-law is facing. The effect of atomic radiation on health is heavily dose-dependent and, except for DNA impairment and cancer, other health effects are quite quickly manifested. I doubt that your father-in-law has been exposed to extremely or high doses of radiation when he was in the navy during 50s- 60s and in such a case the probability that the radiation might have caused degenerative heart problems is very very low. For example, numerous studies have assessed the association between radiation dose early in life and degenerative problems in various organs of the body later in life among atomic bomb survivors, and mainly have not found such associations, even though the average radiation dose was higher than the safe level. In this context, I think that the heart problems of your father-in-law are caused mainly due to the aging effect. Thank you and good luck.