Why would a doctor order a chest X-ray?

If you experience chest pain, difficulty breathing or a persistent cough, your doctor may recommend that you have a chest X ray or chest radiograph. This quick, painless imaging test can help diagnose lung and heart conditions as well as conditions affecting the chest wall and surrounding tissues.

Here, we’ll be answering the question ‘why would a doctor order a chest X ray?’. We’ll explore common reasons for a chest X ray, conditions it can detect, and how to prepare for your chest X ray.

Symptoms that suggest you need a chest X ray

If you experience the following symptoms for 3 weeks or more, it is important to see a doctor:

Breathlessness
Chest pain
Coughing
Loss of appetite
Tiredness
Unintentional weight loss

You should also see a doctor urgently if you’re coughing up blood.

If your doctor suspects that these symptoms are due to a problem with your heart or lungs, they may recommend that you have a chest X ray.

What happens during a chest X-ray?

A chest X ray uses low doses of radiation in the form of X-rays to create images of the tissues in your chest.

At your chest X ray appointment, you will be asked to change into a hospital gown and stand against a flat X-ray plate. The person performing your scan, an X ray technologist, will make sure you’re standing in the right position. If you can’t stand, you can have your chest X ray lying down or seated.

Once you’re ready for your scan, your radiographer will start the chest X ray from the next room. This room usually has a viewing panel or clear screen, so you will still be able to see your care team.

The X ray machine will release beams of X-rays that will pass into your body. Some X-ray radiation passes straight through, while some is absorbed by the tissues in your body. Any X-rays that pass through your body will be picked up by an array of X-ray detectors. This whole process takes less than a second.

Sometimes you will be asked to take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds. This helps create more clear images of your lungs and heart. You may also have more than one X-ray taken from different angles.

The information collected by the X-ray detector will be sent to a computer and turned into an image digitally — x ray film is not used anymore.

Tissues that are dense (eg bones) absorb more X-rays and appear bright white on X ray images. Soft tissues, which are less dense, appear in shades of grey. Areas filled with air or fluid do not absorb many X-rays and appear black.

At Vista Health, you will receive a report of your chest X ray results within 3 working days of having your scan.

This report can be sent to your NHS GP or you can discuss your results with one of our Vista Health GPs who can advise you on next steps, such as further investigations or treatment.

What conditions can a chest X-ray help diagnose?

A chest X ray can diagnose a range of lung conditions, as well as heart problems that produce visible effects on your lungs.

Lung problems

Signs of lung conditions that can be picked up by a chest X ray include:

Emphysema
Inflammation of the lining of the lungs
Fluid buildup around your lungs (pleural effusion)
Fluid in your lungs
Lung cancer
Lung infections

In some cases, further tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis.

Heart problems

Heart failure can be detected by a chest X-ray because it can cause changes in your lungs eg fluid around the lungs.

A chest X ray can also detect fluid around the heart and changes in its size and shape. This helps pick up signs of heart failure too, as well as heart valve problems and an enlarged heart.

Other medical conditions

A chest X ray can detect damage to the bones in your chest, such as broken ribs, or a broken collar bone or spine, and whether your diaphragm has shifted into an abnormal position, which can be caused by a chest injury.

Tumours outside of the lung tissue, such as growths in the chest cavity in the space between the two lungs, can also be detected with a chest X ray.

Safety considerations for chest X-rays

The main safety consideration for any X-ray is radiation exposure.

If you think you may need a chest X-ray, you first need to see a health professional, such as a doctor, to determine if it’s really needed. This is to make sure you’re not exposed to radiation unnecessarily.

If a doctor decides that you do need a chest X-ray, the amount of radiation you will be exposed to is very low. It is similar to the amount of radiation you will be exposed to naturally in the environment over 10 days.

X-rays are generally not advised if you’re pregnant to avoid exposing the unborn baby to radiation. However, there are extra precautions that can be taken if you need to have a chest X-ray while pregnant, such as wearing a protective apron.

How to prepare for a chest X-ray

You can eat and drink as usual before a chest X ray and continue to take your regular medications.

On the day of your chest X ray, wear loose, comfortable clothing that is easy to change out of as you will be asked to wear a hospital gown.

As metal interferes with X-rays, it is important to remove jewellery and other metal items on your body, such as body piercings and detachable medical devices.

Get clarity on your lung health

If you’re concerned about the health of your lungs because of persistent symptoms, you don’t need to wait to get the answers you’re looking for. Simply book a private GP consultation with one of our experienced Vista Health GPs.

They will ask you about your symptoms and medical history, and may perform a physical examination. This will help them determine whether a chest X ray is the best imaging test for you and whether you need any additional tests. If necessary, they can arrange for you to have a private X-ray of your chest at one of our nationwide clinics.