How often should a chest X-ray be done
Release time : 12/13/2024 15:19:25
How often should a chest radiography be done to not affect health? What time does it take to undergo a chest X-ray? How much does it cost to have a chest X-ray? What are the hazards of having a chest X-ray? What precautions should be taken when having a chest X-ray? The purpose of a chest radiography is to examine the heart, liver, and lungs for any abnormalities, primarily to detect tuberculosis. It is a commonly used X-ray examination method.
How often should chest X-rays be taken? Chest radiography is a common method of X-ray examination.
Chest X-rays utilize the properties of X-rays, including their penetrability, fluorescence, and photographic effect, to produce images on a screen. Due to the differences in density and thickness of various tissues within the body, the amount of X-rays absorbed by each tissue is different upon X-ray penetration, resulting in variations in the contrast on the screen. This creates black and white images that provide diagnostic information for physicians.
The amount of radiation exposure in chest radiography is the highest among X-ray examinations, and undergoing one chest radiograph is equivalent to taking 10 X-ray images.
If you frequently undergo chest X-rays, it can have significant impacts on your health.
So how often should a chest X-ray be done to avoid harming the body? Although the radiation exposure of X-rays has been continuously reduced with the continuous improvement of the X-ray apparatus, its impact on health is also decreasing.
However, given that radiography involves ionizing radiation, many doctors recommend against frequent chest X-rays.
The general recommendation of doctors is to have a chest X-ray at most once a year, at least every six months. Children should not have a chest X-ray to avoid affecting their health.
How long does it take to have a chest X-ray? Those who have had chest X-rays know that it is simple. One simply stands in front of the machine, and the machine reads the data.
Since the human body has different densities and thicknesses, X-rays are absorbed differently by various tissues as they pass through them. Consequently, there is a difference in the amount of X-rays reaching the screen, resulting in different contrast images.
The advantage of stereoscopic vision is that it allows observation of the movement and function of organs, while its characteristic feature is the ability to change body position, direction, and angle in any way to obtain a three-dimensional concept.
Generally speaking, you can immediately get the results after a chest X-ray, which takes about 10 minutes.
If it is a check with other people, such as liver function and electrocardiogram, the hospital will generally not tell the patient until all the results are obtained.
A chest radiography session is brief, and you can get your report back quickly.
How much does a chest X-ray cost? How much does a chest X-ray cost? Chest X-ray is a test and also a product.
Prices vary depending on the location and equipment used in other hospitals.
With the advancement of technology, devices will become more sophisticated, and skills will also become more proficient. Coupled with the varying packages offered by each hospital, the cost of chest radiography varies accordingly. Therefore, Mawang Knowledge Base is unable to provide specific pricing information.
The fees for chest X-rays vary by region and hospital, ranging from a few yuan to more than one hundred. Therefore, it is advisable to consult specific hospitals for the exact prices.
What are the risks associated with chest X-rays? Chest X-rays, a common method of utilizing X-rays to examine the human body, utilize the characteristic properties of X-rays such as penetrability, fluorescence, and photography to form an image on a screen. Due to the differences in density and thickness of different tissues in the human body, the amount of X-ray absorbed by these tissues varies, resulting in a difference in the amount of X-ray reaching the screen, creating a contrast that forms black and white images, providing a basis for diagnostics by physicians.
The advantage of chest X-rays is that they can observe organ movement and function; another characteristic of chest X-rays is that they permit arbitrary changes in the position, direction, and angle of the patient's body to obtain a three dimensional concept.
The amount of radiation in chest X-rays is the highest among all X-ray examinations. One chest X-ray equals 10 X-ray photos.
Frequent chest X-rays are definitely not good for the body, as X-rays can kill normal white blood cells in the body, reduce the body's immunity, and cause a series of problems.
According to the latest research results from the International Commission on Radiological Protection, it is estimated that in cities with a population of around 10 million, approximately 350 people may develop cancer, leukemia, or other genetic diseases each year due to exposure to X-rays.
X-ray examination is a double-edged sword.
X-rays are harmful to the human body, but many disease diagnoses cannot be separated from them.
Among all X-ray examination methods, the harm of chest X-ray is well known, and developed countries such as the United States and Japan have basically eliminated this method.
What should be noted when undergoing a chest X-ray? Taking a chest X-ray can have implications on the body, and one should approach it with caution.
1. Regarding pediatric chest radiography, children are in a period of rapid growth and development with active cellular division, which is much more sensitive than adults (fetal tissue is even more sensitive to radiation), potentially leading to damage to some cells. If these damaged cells fail to repair themselves (or if they do so abnormally), they can remain within the body as "time bombs," unleashing replication when the immune system weakens or oncogenic factors are present, eventually becoming cancerous lesions.
Therefore, the more times a person undergoes radiological examinations, the greater the likelihood of developing cancer.
In the future decades after their radiotherapy, the late effects may be triggered.
The standards of radiological protection for children in China and internationally stipulate that routine chest X-rays should not be conducted as part of the routine examinations (such as physical exams) for young children or teenagers.
Children should be encouraged to undergo radiographic examinations whenever possible.
2. Whenever possible, replace chest radiography with a chest X-ray. The voltage and current used during chest radiography are significantly lower than those in chest X-rays. Due to the reduced intensity, radiation cannot penetrate as swiftly as it does during chest X-rays. Consequently, the time taken for the radiation to pass through the body is relatively longer, resulting in a higher dose absorbed by the body.
Moreover, the clarity and accuracy of chest X-rays are not as good as those obtained by radiography.
But chest X-ray has the characteristics of equipment simple, operation convenience, low cost (generally 6 to 10 yuan), and can be immediately drawn conclusions.
3. Thoracic radiography should be limited to a few examinations only, primarily used for diagnosing lung diseases, assessing the size of the heart, examining the ribs, thoracic pleura, chest wall and mediastinum, and evaluating the bronchi.
To reduce the harm caused by X-rays, patients should not undergo too many chest radiography examinations or have multiple repeated examinations in a short period, especially when chest radiography is conducted. They should not expect the doctor to look at the patient for a longer time or with more attention.
The medical information provided in this article is for reference only.
If there is any discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the diagnosis and treatment should be based on offline medical examination.