Chest X-rays

A chest X-ray looks at the inside of your chest, looking at the heart, lungs, large arteries, ribs and diaphragm. An X-ray involves special rays passing through the body to create a black and white image.

The above animation shows a live 3d chest x-ray. It shoes the movement of the chest wall when taking a breath in and out and the heart beating.

X-rays are usually carried out in the radiology department by an X-ray technician. The image is then examined by a radiologist. This is a doctor who specialises in interpreting X-rays.

Image of a x-ray machine. 

Before the procedure, you will be asked to undress to the waist and remove any jewellery. You will be given a hospital gown to wear.

Having an X-ray is not uncomfortable. If you are, or think you may be, pregnant, you must tell the X-ray technician.

For the X-ray you will need to stand or sit (if you cannot stand) in front of the X-ray machine and rest against a plate, which can be quite cold!

The technician will ask you to hold your breath and not to move while the X-ray is taken. This usually only takes a few seconds. After the X-ray has been taken, you will be asked to wait while the image develops. This does not take long. Occasionally an X-ray has to be repeated.

You may need to have a chest X-ray if you have symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, a persistent cough or coughing up blood. A chest X-ray can show the size of your heart. An enlarged heart may be a sign of heart problems or disease. A chest X-ray is often carried out as a routine test before any treatment is carried out.