An X-ray is a quick and painless procedure commonly used to produce images of the inside of the body. It's a very effective way of looking at the bones and can be used to help detect a range of conditions.
X-rays are usually carried out in hospital X-ray departments by
trained specialists called radiographers, although they can also be done by
other healthcare professionals, such as dentists.
How X-rays work
X-rays are a type of radiation that can pass
through the body. They can't be seen by the naked eye and you can't feel
them. As they pass through the body, the energy from X-rays is
absorbed at different rates by different parts of the body. A detector on
the other side of the body picks up the X-rays after they've passed through and
turns them into an image.
Dense parts of your body that X-rays find it more difficult to pass
through, such as bone, show up as clear white areas on the image. Softer
parts that X-rays can pass through more easily, such as your heart and lungs,
show up as darker areas.
When X-rays are used
X-rays can be used to examine most areas of the body. They're mainly
used to look at the bones and joints, although they're sometimes used to detect
problems affecting soft tissue, such as internal organs.
Problems that may be detected during an X-ray include:
- bone fractures and breaks
- tooth problems, such as loose teeth and dental abscesses
- scoliosis (abnormal curvature of the spine)
- non-cancerous and cancerous bone tumours
- lung problems, such as pneumonia and lung cancer
- dysphagia (swallowing problems)
- heart problems, such as heart failure
- breast cancer
X-rays can also be used to guide doctors or surgeons during certain
procedures. For example, during a coronary angioplasty – a
procedure to widen narrowed arteries near the heart – X-rays can
be used to help guide a catheter (a long, thin, flexible tube) along one
of your arteries.
Preparing for an X-ray
You don't usually need to do anything special to prepare for an X-ray.
You can eat and drink as normal beforehand and can continue taking your usual
medications. However, you may need to stop taking certain medications and avoid
eating and drinking for a few hours if you're having an X-ray that uses a
contrast agent (see contrast X-rays below).
For all X-rays, you should let the hospital know if you're pregnant.
X-rays aren't usually recommended for pregnant women unless it's an
emergency (for more information, see Can
I have an X-ray if I'm pregnant?). It's a good idea to wear loose comfortable clothes, as you may be able
to wear these during the X-ray. Try to avoid wearing jewellery and clothes
containing metal (such as zips), as these will need to be removed.
Having an X-ray
During an X-ray, you'll usually be asked to lie on a table or stand
against a flat surface so that the part of your body being
examined can be positioned in the right place. The X-ray machine, which looks like a tube containing a large light
bulb, will be carefully aimed at the part of the body being examined by the
radiographer. They will operate the machine from behind a screen or from
the next room.
The X-ray will last for a fraction of a second. You won't feel
anything while it's carried out. While the X-ray is being taken, you'll need to keep still so the image
produced isn't blurred. More than one X-ray may be taken from different
angles to provide as much information as possible
The procedure will usually only take a few minutes.
Contrast X-rays
In some cases, a substance called a contrast agent may be given
before an X-ray is carried out. This can help show soft tissues more clearly on
the X-ray. Types of X-rays involving a contrast agent include:
- barium swallow – a substance called barium is swallowed to help highlight the upper digestive system
- barium enema – barium is passed into your bowel through your bottom
- angiography – iodine is injected into a blood vessel to highlight the heart and blood vessels
- intravenous urogram (IVU) – iodine is injected into a blood vessel to highlight the kidneys and bladder
These types of X-rays may need special preparation beforehand and will
usually take longer to carry out. Your appointment letter will mention
anything you need to do to prepare.
What happens after an
X-ray
You won't experience any after effects from a standard X-ray and will be
able to go home shortly afterwards. You can return to your normal
activities straight away. You may have some temporary side effects from the contrast agent if one
was used during your X-ray.
For example, barium can turn your poo a whitish colour for a few days
and an injection given to relax your stomach before the X-ray may
cause your eyesight to be blurry for a few hours. Some people develop a
rash or feel sick after having an iodine injection.
The X-ray images will often need to be examined by a doctor called
a radiologist before you're told the results. They may discuss their findings
with you on the same day, or they may send a report to your GP or the doctor
who requested the X-ray, who can discuss the results with you a few days later.
Are X-rays safe?
People are often concerned about being exposed to radiation during an
X-ray. However, the part of your body being examined will only be exposed
to a low level of radiation for a fraction of a second. Generally, the amount of radiation you're exposed to during an X-ray is
the equivalent to between a few days and a few years of exposure to
natural radiation from the environment.
Being exposed to X-rays does carry a risk of causing cancer many years or decades
later, but this risk is thought to be very small. For example, an X-ray of your chest, limbs or teeth is
equivalent to a few days' worth of background radiation, and has less
than a 1 in 1,000,000 chance of causing cancer. For more
information, see GOV.UK: patient dose
information.
The benefits and risks of having an X-ray will be weighed up before it's
recommended. Talk to your doctor or radiographer about the potential risks
beforehand, if you have any concerns.
Last Updated: 12 February 2019