Managing Claustrophobia During Medical Procedures

如果你患有claustrophobiaor the fear of enclosed spaces, you may be afraid to undergo some important medical tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI. For this reason, claustrophobia can actually be dangerous.

各种各样的医疗测试和程序可能会引发幽闭恐惧症。

幽闭恐惧症对每个人都不同

Like any otherphobia，幽闭恐惧症可能是轻度或严重的。有些人只害怕极其紧凑的外壳，而其他人则在拥挤的房间或过山车克制中变得不舒服。在极端情况下，患者可能无法完全关闭浴室或厨房门。

为什么医疗程序触发幽闭恐惧症

许多医疗程序要求您保持极其静止。实际或模拟约束可用于保持静止和治疗部位无菌。此外，某些程序 - 例如CT扫描 - 涉及在轻柔移动的桌子上滑入空心管。

For many claustrophobia sufferers, MRIs cause the most fear.该程序要求您在紧凑，响亮的房间上奠定了几乎不可移动，长达一小时。典型的MRI腔室比CT管更大，更加强烈，并且典型的扫描时间也很长。

管理你的幽闭恐惧症

Despite your fear of a CT scan or an MRI, medical procedures are an important part of life.

If your fear is mild to moderate, there are several steps you can take to prepare yourself for any medical procedure.

• Tell your primary care doctor about your phobia。He or she can help you prepare by explaining an upcoming procedure in detail and letting you know what to expect.
• Ask to see the equipment in advance. For many people, just seeing the machine and how it operates can help to reduceanticipatory anxiety。您甚至可能被允许躺在桌子上或观看技术人员打开设备。
• Inquire about distractions. Some facilities now provide music, soothing images or even movies for patients undergoing anxiety-producing tests. A few even go so far as to recreate a peaceful beach scene or another pleasant environment within the testing room.
• Ask about chemical sedation. Some doctors prescribe mild tranquilizers for certain patients undergoing these procedures. Of course, this will depend on your personal health history and the requirements of the particular procedure. Many doctors will not provide anything stronger, such as general anesthesia, although this opinion may vary through the medical community.
• Discuss alternatives. Some facilities now offer "Open MRIs," which eliminate the closed chamber. You'll still be enclosed, but you'll have access to fresh air and light. If your fear is not severe, this type of MRI may be tolerable. In addition, alternative types of imaging procedures may be acceptable for some conditions. Discuss the risks and benefits of possible alternatives with your physician.

If your claustrophobia is impacting your life, it's important to seek the advice of a qualified mental health professional.

凭借一些努力，您可以成功地克服幽闭恐惧症，并获得所需的CT扫描，MRIS和其他医疗测试。