X-RAY: DIAGNOSIS USING RADIATION
An x-ray that is a makeup for X-radiation is one of most popular imaging test used for a long time. It saves the patient from the complications of going through surgery and gives the doctor a better view of the inside of your body. X-ray helps to diagnose, monitor and even treat specific diseases. There are many types of X-rays. For example, the doctors prescribe a mammogram to examine the breast, while they will suggest a barium enema to get a better look at your gastrointestinal duct.
WHEN DO WE NEED AN X-RAY:
As X-ray is mainly a medium of diagnosis, your doctor may order an X-ray to:.
- Diagnose your body if you are feeling pain or discomfort.
- Observe how well the prescribed treatment is working.
- Monitor the development of a previously diagnosed disease such as osteoporosis.
Doctors suggest an X-ray especially in cases like:
- Bone cancer
- Breast Tumor
- Enlarged heart
- Blocked blood vessels
- Conditions affecting your lungs
- Fractures
- Infections
- Digestive problems
- Arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Tooth decay
- Needed to retrieve swallowed items.
HOW IS AN X-RAY PERFORMED:
X-ray is an outpatient and standard procedure. As in, you don’t need to prepare for them and can go out and do day-to-day works after finished. You will have to wear loose, comfortable clothing in which you can quickly move around. Your doctor may ask you to change into a hospital gown. You should make sure to remove any jewelry or metallic items from the body as it will scramble the result. Must inform doctor before x-ray if you have any metal implant prior surgeries. The doctor may also ask you to inhale or inject dye (contrast materials), that contains iodine or barium compounds. So, make sure to inform the doctor if you have an allergic reaction to iodine. You need to fast for a certain amount of time if you are diagnosing your gastrointestinal tract. An X-ray can perform in a hospital’s radiology department, a dentist’s office or clinic that specializes in diagnostic procedures. Once you prepared, your radiologist will show you the proper way to sit, stand or lie down to get a clear image according to the part that will be examined. It is important to stay still while the radiologist takes the photos.
COMPLICATIONS:
Contrast materials or dye ingestion shows side effects, like:
- Itching
- Hives
- Nausea
- Lightheadedness
- A metallic taste in your mouth
In sporadic cases, the dye causes extreme reactions, such as:
- Very low blood pressure
- Anaphylactic shock
- Cardiac arrest
In the case of these reactions, contact your doctor immediately. Even though in X-ray radiation exposure is minimal, it is not safe for a fetus. So, if you are pregnant, or you think you might be so that, inform your doctor. He will suggest a different imaging method, like an MRI.