An X-ray is an imaging test that uses small amounts of radiation to produce pictures of the organs, tissues, and bones of the body. When focused on the chest, it can help spot abnormalities or diseases of the airways, blood vessels, bones, heart, and lungs. Chest X-rays can also determine if you have fluid in your lungs, or fluid or air surrounding your lungs.A chest X-ray is a picture of the heart, lungs and bones of the chest. A chest X-ray doesn’t show the inside structures of the heart though.

Why do I need a Chest X-ray?

      Your doctor may order a chest X-ray if they suspect that your symptoms have a connection to problems in your chest. Suspicious symptoms may include:

• chest pain
• fever
• persistent cough
• shortness of breath

These symptoms could be the result of the following conditions, which a chest X-ray can detect:

• broken ribs
• emphysema (a long-term, progressive lung condition that causes breathing difficulties)
• heart failure
• lung cancer
• pneumonia
• pneumothorax (a collection of air in the space between your lungs and your chest wall)

Another use for a chest X-ray is to see the size and shape of your heart. Abnormalities in the size and shape of your heart can indicate issues with heart function.

Doctors sometimes use chest X-rays to monitor your progress after surgery to the chest area. Doctors can check to see that any implanted materials are in the right place, and they can make sure you’re not experiencing any air leaks or fluid buildup.

How I prepare?

            Before the chest X-ray, you generally undress from the waist up and wear an exam gown. You'll need to remove jewelry from the waist up, too, since both clothing and jewelry can obscure the X-ray images.

How is it done?

A technologist positions you (a hospital gown may be worn over the chest) next to the X-ray film. Older children will be asked to hold their breath and be very still for two or three seconds; infants may require some restraint. An X-ray machine will be turned on for a fraction of a second. During this time, a small beam of X-rays passes through the chest and makes an image on special photographic film. Sometimes two pictures are taken — a front and side view. The X-ray film takes about 10 minutes to develop. Sometimes your cardiologist needs more than just the front and side chest X-rays.

Interpreting the results of an Chest X-ray

A chest X-ray produces a black-and-white image of the organs in your chest. Structures that block radiation appear white, and structures that let radiation through appear black.

Your bones appear white because they are very dense. Your heart also appears as a lighter area. Your lungs are filled with air and block very little radiation, so they appear as darker areas on the images.

A radiologist — a doctor trained in interpretation of X-rays and other imaging exams — analyzes the images, looking for clues that may suggest if you have heart failure, fluid around your heart, cancer, pneumonia or another condition.

Your own doctor will discuss the results with you as well as what treatments or other tests or procedures may be necessary.

Does it hurt?

No, it doesn’t. You won’t feel the X-rays as the pictures are taken.

Is it harmful?

The amount of radiation used in a chest X-ray is very small — one-fifth the dose a person gets each year from natural sources such as the sun and ground. This small amount of radiation isn’t considered dangerous. However, pregnant women should avoid even this low level of radiation, when possible.