The body is a big mass, so big that there are some things you cannot detect. There is some kind of ailments that you would need more than ultrasound imaging to see. Are you getting an x-ray soon and you stay around? Perhaps you have may have asked the question what can X-rays detect in Rockaway, NJ? Well, this article will tell you that but first, let’s talk about what x-rays are all about.
What is an x-ray?
An x-ray is one of the procedures carried out by the body to check for defects in the bone structure or a mass or tumour. It is quick and painless but one has to be careful with continuous exposure. It is commonly used to detect and produces images of the inside of the body and is quite effective for detecting a range of conditions.
They are usually carried out in hospitals or laboratories by trained specialists called radiographers, but can also be done by other healthcare professionals like dentists.
How does it work?
X-rays, aside from what it does, are considered to be a type of radiation that can pass through the body and cannot be seen by the naked eye or felt. When they pass through the body, the energy released by the x-ray is absorbed in different levels by different parts of the body and a detector picks up these rays on the other side and turns them into an image. Parts of the body that may be too dense for x-rays to pass through such as the bone, show up as white areas on the image while the softer parts such as your lungs, show up as darker areas.
When is it used?
X-rays can be used in examining many areas of the body, mostly to look at the bones, and joints and at times detect problems that may be affecting the soft tissues of the body, eg, internal organs.
What can x-rays detect?
The problems x-rays can detect are a lot and some of them include
- Bone fractures and breakages
- Tooth problems, like loose teeth and dental abscesses
- Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine.
- Non-cancerous and cancerous bone tumours
- Lug defects or diseases, such as pneumonia and lung cancer
- Dysphagia, problem swallowing
- Heart problems, like heart failure
- And also breast cancer
It can also help doctors as a guide in certain procedures, an example is coronary angioplasty procedure.
What to do when preparing for an x-ray?
You don’t really need to do anything, you are allowed to eat, drink as you usually do and even take your medications but it all depends on the procedure or the medication you use. You will need to avoid taking in anything if you will be going through an x-ray procedure that uses a contrast agent.
Who should avoid an x-ray procedure?
Pregnant women especially should avoid x-rays. You will need to inform them you are pregnant before an x-ray procedure is carried out
