Chest X- Ray
Who : It is a test done for non pregnant women and for patients who are required by their doctor to check for any possible lung problems such as pneumonia, bronchitis and lung cancer.
What: It is a painless, noninvasive test that creates pictures of the structures inside your chest, such as your heart, lungs, and blood vessels. "Noninvasive" means that no surgery is done and no instruments are inserted into your body.
Why: It is usually done to check the condition of the lungs, to see any heart-related problems or any fractures that causes pain.
When: For patients who have recently done a chest ray and the result is normal, it is recommended to have another X-ray 6 months after the first exam if necessary. Although radiation from a single chest X-ray is exceedingly small, it should still only be done for a good reason and if required by your attending physician.
How: To prepare for a chest X-ray, the patient is typically instructed to wear a gown and remove all metal containing objects around the upper body (necklaces, zippers, bras, buttons, jewelry, eyeglasses, etc.) as these will interfere with the visualization of the tissues. No other specific preparation, such as fasting, is necessary for a routine chest X-ray.