Firstly, chest x-rays can diagnose a ' large number of conditions ', aside from broken bones and item that may have been swallowed or lodge in the chest area.
Your doctor may recommend a chest x-ray if you complain of difficulty breathing , shortness of breath , a persistent cough , chest pain , or had a recent chest injury.
A chest x-ray can detect:
Changes in the size and shape of Heart.
These changes can indicate valve damage, heart failure , pericardial effusion, and congenital heart defects.
Lung Abnormalities.
Lung problems occur as result of heart conditions , including pulmonary oedema (accumulation of fluid in the lungs) , chronic obstructive pulmonary, cancer , cystic fibrosis and infection such as pneumonia.
Damaged Blood Vessels.
The large vessels situated close to the heart are clearly visible on an x-ray. Therefore, problem with the pulmonary arteries , aorta , and veins can be detected by x-ray. eg: aneurysm.
Calcium Deposits.
Calcium deposition can happen in your heart , blood vessels and lungs. This can cause serious problem such as damage to the heart muscle , valve and pericardium.
Abnormalities due to Injury.
Rib fracture and lung damage can occur due to an injury.
What Should You Expect?
Having an x-ray done is not something you should worry about. It is a simple , quick , and painless procedure.If radiation is something you are worried about, fret no more! The amount of radiation released during chest x-rays is low; in fact one of the lowest among diagnostic imaging methods.
