Chest X-Ray: What to Expect

A chest X-ray is a test that uses radiation to make pictures of the organs in your chest, such as your lungs, heart, and ribs. X-rays can help your health care provider figure out why you have chest pain or a cough.

• Heart failure.
• Broken ribs.
• Breathing problems.
• Cancer.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you take. These include vitamins, herbs, eye drops, and creams.
• Any surgeries you've had.
• Any medical problems you have.
• Whether you're pregnant or may be pregnant.

What are the risks?

• Being exposed to a small amount of radiation.
• Being more likely to get cancer, if you're exposed to too much radiation. This can happen if you have too many X-rays.

What happens before?

• Remove glasses, jewelry, and any other metal objects.
• Undress from the waist up. You may be given a hospital gown to wear.
• Wear a protective lead apron. This helps protect other parts of your body from radiation.

What happens during a chest X-ray?

• You'll be asked to stand still as each picture is taken.
• You'll be asked to take a deep breath and hold it for a few seconds.
• The X-ray machine will make a picture of your chest. It won't hurt.
• More pictures may be taken from other angles. If you can't stand, you may be asked to lie down.

These steps may vary. Ask what you can expect.

What can I expect after?

• Your provider or an X-ray specialist called a radiologist will look at the X-rays.
• You may go back to your normal activities, unless your provider says not to.
• Ask when your X-ray results will be ready and how to get them. You may need to call or meet with your provider to get your results.
• Your provider will tell you if you need more tests or another exam.