An X-ray is a process of radiography. Getting an X-ray can be practically painless. X-rays are used to get a deep look inside the body and understand, review, or analyze soft tissues and bones. A healthcare professional would recommend an X-ray when needed to detect fractures in the bones, infections inside the body, or cancer cells in the form of tumors.
While people may be aware of the uses of X-rays, they may not be aware of the correct methodology for being prepared for the procedure. If you become aware of how to be ready for an x-ray west new york, you can increase the accuracy of the results and make the process easier for yourself.
Tips for preparing for an X-ray procedure:
- Consult a healthcare professional.
It will be necessary for you to consult your doctor before getting an X-ray. You should seek guidance from the doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding a baby. The X-ray procedure induces small amounts of radiation, which can harm pregnant women or young mothers. You should also ask your doctor if you should be fasting before the X-ray procedure. Some X-ray procedures require you to fast to yield better and more precise results.
- Try to wear comfortable clothes and shoes and remove cosmetics.
Before the x-ray exam, you will likely be asked to remove your clothes and shoes. It will be helpful for you to wear comfortable clothes and shoes which can be easy to remove. It will also be ideal to remove all your cosmetics, such as watches, jewelry, glasses, etc.
- Relieve yourself before the exam.
If your doctor has recommended an abdominal X-ray, you should empty yourself before the X-ray exam. When getting an abdominal X-ray, you cannot leave the exam room. It would help if you also tried not to drink excessive water before the procedure.
- Understand the role of a contrast medium.
In specific x-ray exams, you must drink a contrast medium liquid. Contrast medium helps highlight and outline specific body areas on the X-ray film. As a result, you will be required to drink other solutions containing iodine or barium, take a pill, and get an injection for the exam.
- Practice breath-holding exercises a day before the exam.
An X-ray procedure will likely require you to hold your breath during the exam. In such cases, it will be helpful for you to practice a few breath-holding exercises to prepare for the X-ray procedure. When you hold your breath during the X-ray, your lungs and heart display more clearly on the X-ray image.