Chest X-ray

In a chest X-ray, electromagnetic energy is used to create images of the internal organs and tissues, including bones. A chest X-ray can show the size, shape, and position of the heart and can detect changes in the lungs related to any heart abnormalities. Chest X-rays are a routine part of any evaluation for cardiomyopathy.

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Getting a chest X-ray doesn't hurt. Before the test, you will need to remove all clothing and jewelry from the waist up. During the X-ray, you will likely be asked to stand against the plate containing the X-ray film and roll your shoulders forward while holding your arms at your sides so they do not interfere with the picture. The radiologist or technician will ask you to take a deep breath and hold it as the X-ray picture is taken. Holding your breath fills your lungs with air and helps your heart and lungs show up more clearly on the film.

Although a chest X-ray exposes you to a small amount of radiation, it is less than that experienced in daily living, and the benefits of the image greatly outweigh the slight increase in cancer risk posed by the radiation exposure. However, women who have any chance of being pregnant when the X-ray is taken should tell their doctors, so that special precautions can be taken to minimize the developing fetus's exposure to radiation.