Think Twice before insisting on that CAT-scan or MRI. Medical tests such as CT-scans, X-rays and MRI’s are important tools used by physicians to diagnose a variety of medical conditions. However, like everything, they do have risks. Sometimes things are discovered on these tests that “might” be abnormal, leading to further tests or treatments, each of which have their own risks, and in the end everything would have been better off left alone. Some tests expose the patient to high doses of radiation or to dyes that occasionally cause kidney damage or allergic reactions. In the U.S. we spend a lot more on health care than other countries, but are no healthier. So the next time your doctor advises you against a certain test, if you trust him or her, listen. Often there is a safer approach. Sometimes less is more.