Wilhelm Roentgen discovered the x-ray on Nov. 8, 1895. That amazing look inside the human body to detect injury and disease has revolutionized modern medicine. Every year, 1 in 6 Americans undergoes an x-ray imaging procedure – from a dental x-ray to a computed tomography (CT) scan of the entire body.
Tips for a Safe X-Ray
The American Society of Radiologic Technologists makes these suggestions:
- Tell your doctor or the radiologic technologist if you are pregnant. Many types of x-ray examinations can be performed safely on pregnant women. But the benefits of the examination must be weighed against any risk to the developing fetus.
- The eyes, thyroid, and reproductive organs are more sensitive to radiation than are other parts of the body. These organs usually are shielded when they are in the path of the x-ray beam, unless the use of shields would interfere with the examination. If you do not receive shielding and think you should, ask.
- Remain still during the exposure, which lasts only a few seconds. Motion makes images blurry and requires them to be repeated. For certain exams, you also will be asked to hold your breath so the movement of your lungs will not blur the image. The easiest way to do this is to take a deep breath, exhale, and then take another breath and hold it.
- Metal can interfere with the interpretation of an x-ray image. If you are having a skull x-ray, you will need to remove earrings, hairpins and eyeglasses. For an x-ray of the hands, you'll be asked to remove rings, bracelets, and watches. For other types of examinations, you might have to remove clothing that has zippers, metal buttons or snaps, and body piercings, depending on the area of the body being examined. You will be given a hospital gown to wear.
- Don't refuse a radiologic examination if there is a clear need for it. X-rays and other images can provide life-saving information. On the other hand, don't insist on an x-ray or other type of imaging if your doctor does not recommend one. Like most things in life, these procedures carry a small risk. They should be performed only when there is a medical need.
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