Information for patients > Services > X-Ray
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X-rays
Information for patients
It is perfectly understandable to be apprehensive when you arrive for an investigation, but staff at all our sites are kind, friendly, informative and helpful and will help you to feel relaxed and calm. The information below should give you a reasonable idea about how to prepare for your particular type of investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - X-Rays
What preparation is required for an X-ray?
An X-ray is a simple, two-dimensional picture generated by a radiation beam that passes through the part of the body being imaged.
X-rays are used for investigating a wide range of conditions, and are particularly useful in diagnosing bone and lung disease. Plain X-rays do not provide detailed information about soft tissue structures such as ligaments, tendons and abdominal organs, which are often better imaged in other ways such as ultrasound, CT and MRI.
What preparation is required for an X-ray?
There is usually no special preparation ahead of time. However if you are pregnant, or think you might be, you must inform the department.
You may be asked to put on a gown and, depending on what part of the body is to be imaged, you may be asked to lie down on an X-ray table. A radiographer will position you and gently pull the X-ray machine down until it is close to but not touching your body. He or she will ask you to hold your position and then walk into the other room to work the controls that take the picture. You may be asked to hold your breath for a short time. The radiographer may reposition you several times, depending on how many X-ray images are needed.
There are no after effects so you should be able to drive yourself home afterwards. A radiologist will interpret the image and issue a report, which your doctor will discuss with you at your next appointment.
Too much exposure to this form of radiation can be harmful, but it is important to keep the risks of X-rays in perspective. We're constantly being exposed to natural radiation from the environment around us - from the earth, through cosmic rays from outer space, even from the food we eat. The exact dose of radiation depends on the type of X-ray performed, but chest X-rays for instance are the equivalent of just a few days of natural background radiation.
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