The day of the MRI: how should you prepare for this test?

Millions of people receive a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test every year. However, there are a lot of patients that are highly stressed at the thought of having an MRI scan.

These could be from patients that suffer from claustrophobia or anxiety and are afraid of MRI. Advances in science have enabled specialists to develop upright Stress Free MRI scanning technology. This is a remarkable way forward in MRI scanning. However, let us look at the fear aspects of having a typical MRI scan.

Fear of MRI?

Tachycardia, heat, tremors, oppression, shortness of breath or panic: the symptoms of claustrophobia and anxiety can manifest at any time, being the entrance to the echo chamber a possible trigger. Those who have suffered it, sometimes create animosity for this type of test, refusing to carry it out.

To avoid this, it is important for the patient to understand that magnetic resonance imaging is nothing more than a diagnostic scan that, thanks to equipment such as the one that the Granada Diagnostic Center has, is usually fast and increasingly quiet. Despite its striking structure, it is completely harmless and the patient does not face any danger, being constantly monitored by several professionals.

Recommendations to face an MRI

The first thing we recommend is that you know the device in which you are going to undergo the MRI: our new 3 Tesla MRIs, already available in our clinic, offer important improvements:

• On the diagnostic side, they provide specific details that cannot be seen in other radiology tests, leading to more accurate results.
• Regarding the time of the explorations, it is reduced by having a larger tunnel diameter than conventional resonances, thus allowing to reduce the sensation of claustrophobia, in addition to significantly reducing the noise during the performance of the test, which entails a substantial improvement in patient comfort.
• To this we must add a substantial improvement in terms of noise: our new resonances have Quiet technology, which allows the studio to not have that annoying noise of other devices of this type.
• Did you know that we offer multimedia audio and video systems so that, inside the cabin, you can watch videos, for example, of meditation?

It is also important, if you are going to undergo an MRI test, that you practice relaxation breathing techniques and, during the test, close your eyes. We will protect you during the process and we will be there to reassure you. Remember that the vast majority of patients undergo the test without problems: there is no risk of any kind.