If you're having chest pains, an advanced type of CT scan can quickly rule out a heart attack. New research suggests that might be good for hospitals, but not necessarily for you.

The scans cut hospital time but didn't save money, the study found. They also prompted more tests and questionable treatments and gave doses of radiation to people at such low risk of a heart attack they probably didn't need a major test at all.

There is no evidence that adding these tests saved lives or found more heart attacks, wrote Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. Her commentary accompanied the study in Thursday's New England Journal of Medicine. Radiation from the scans can raise the long-term risk of developing cancer, so doctors "may legitimately ask whether the tests did more harm than good," she wrote. -- AP

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions and subtitles off, selected
      Crash, stabbing in Franklin Square ... Endangered bird postpones fireworks ... Newsday at the movies Credit: Newsday

      Updated 49 minutes ago Immigrants fear reporting crimes ... Crash, stabbing in Franklin Square ... Endangered bird postpones fireworks ... Jones Beach Brewing Co.

      Video Player is loading.
      Current Time 0:00
      Duration 0:00
      Loaded: 0%
      Stream Type LIVE
      Remaining Time 0:00
       
      1x
        • Chapters
        • descriptions off, selected
        • captions and subtitles off, selected
          Crash, stabbing in Franklin Square ... Endangered bird postpones fireworks ... Newsday at the movies Credit: Newsday

          Updated 49 minutes ago Immigrants fear reporting crimes ... Crash, stabbing in Franklin Square ... Endangered bird postpones fireworks ... Jones Beach Brewing Co.

          4th OF JULY

          25¢

          for 6 MONTHS

          Choose your deal >>

          Cancel anytime - New subscribers only