Protecting Against Radioiodine with Potassium iodide (KI)
If you're reading this and you live near a nuclear power plant you may already be familiar with Potassium iodide (KI).
Since the incident at Chernobyl, nearly twenty years ago, scientists have learned a great deal about the effects radiation poisoning can have on people.
A person exposed to "fallout" can suffer from a myriad list of ailments, among them thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer, due to radiation poisoning, is caused by the uptake (through inhalation or ingestion) of radioiodine (a radioactive isotope of iodine). The treatment is practical enough but a few things should be explained before going on. For instance...
What Does The Thyroid Gland Do?
The gland produces a hormone (thyroxin) that regulates the metabolism of the body. From there, the thyroid gland has an influence in affecting many functions of the body including increasing heart rate and body temperature, mental alertness, enhancing energy, and increasing secretion of Growth Hormone.
Click here, for more information on the thyroid gland and thyroid disorders.
Where Does Iodine Come Into Play?
The thyroid's primary "fuel" - as it were - is iodine. It uptakes the iodine and converts it into the necessary hormones for bodily function. This feature is wherein the danger lies. The thyroid gland, as previously stated, wants iodine. Wherever it can get it, it will. This makes it extremely vulnerable to the uptake of radioactive iodine. This fact is both a cure and a crux.
Radioiodine, in controlled dosage, is the preferred treatment for thyroidal illnesses such as thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, and Grave's disease. The key is "Controlled Dosage." Treatments are, ideally, under supervision and the threat of overexposure is limited. This is not the case in a radioactive fallout. Overexposure to radioiodine would be almost a certainty. The destroyed/damaged thyroid is then susceptible to the development of cancer. An interesting irony.
So What Does All of This Have to Do with Potassium Iodide?
Since the thyroid is such a glutton for iodine, the best thing to do is to let it have it. If a nuclear emergency should occur, be it from a reactor or attack, the preferred way to block the uptake of radioiodine is by making certain that the gland is already saturated with iodine. Insert KI here. Potassium iodide supplies the thyroid with the over-abundance of iodine it needs and prevents it from absorbing the radioactive iodine.
Believe it or not most of you have consumed potassium iodide, that is if you've ever used table salt. It's added to salt to help stave off iodine deficiency. Of course there's less than 0.01% so it's ineffective as a treatment. It will do you no good to consume huge quantities of salt in a radioactive emergency - you'll just end up with high blood pressure and will still have the threat of thyroid cancer.
For emergencies we keep many things around the house, everything from rubbing alcohol to syrup of ipecac. If a product expires, you throw it out and get more. The same goes for fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and flashlights. And the same should go for Potassium iodide.
The concept is not one we like to let slip into our conscious minds - that of a severe nuclear emergency. But it is possible, especially under current conditions. It's always best to be prepared.
What Do I Do If I'm Exposed to Radiation?
In the event of a nuclear emergency, local officials will have the task of instructing the public on the immediate actions to take. In relation to radioactive iodine, the consumption of KI within 3-4 hours of exposure is necessary to help prevent the radioiodine uptake from occurring.
As The Tsumani in Japan so emphatically brought home to many of us having survival tips, graphs, diagrams, and important information in one place is helpful to everyone and much more convenient in our daily lives. Remembering the information you may need in a tough situation is equally challenging.
Webmaster Recommended First Aid Must-Haves
Tea Tree Oil: Tea Tree oil is a must for any first aid cabinet. Use on cuts, scrapes, bites, rashes. Gargle for sore throat and colds. Apply to fever blisters to dry them up quickly. Mist basements to control mold.
Click here, learn more about > Tea Tree Oil.
Activated Charcoal: Another item no first aid kit should be without is activated charcoal. I keep it on hands for my animals, in case they ever get hold of something poison, but also keep it on hand for me.
Healthcare professionals utilize the special properties of activated charcoal to address:
- Elimination of toxins that can contribute to anemia in cancer patients.
- Filtering of toxins from blood, in cases of liver or kidney disease.
- Effective deodorizing and disinfections of wounds.
Activated Charcoal can also help cut down on the odors some lleostomy and colostomy patients deal with, purify the blood, treat overdoses of aspirine, and treat some forms of dysentery, diarrhea, dyspepsia, etc. as well as to absorb toxic substances such as aconite, amitriptyline hydrochloride, amphetamine, arsenic, barbiturates, Ben-Gay, camphor, chlordane, chlorpromazine, cocaine, darvon, diazepam, digitalis, doxepin, elavil, gasoline, kerosene, penicillin, pesticides, radioactive substances and many, many more toxic substances. Activated charcoal is also excellent for simple indigestion.
Some instances where charcoal might be good to have around, certainly not as a substitute for needed medical attention but as something that could help till you can get to the doctor: food poisoning, accidental ingestion of poisons, poisonous spider, snake or bug bites, Nature's Way Activated Charcoal (from Indian Hardwood) is one of the finest natural adsorbent agents known. Each particle contains many small chambers and cavities that bind-up unwanted material or gas. Activated Charcoal is commonly used to adsorb digestive gas and toxins including poisons. Activated Charcoal is listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. Poison Control Center recommends this for use in poisoning.
Click here for information on > Nature's Activated Charcoal
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