X-ray is a quick procedure that is commonly used to produce images of the inside of your body. It is used to examine most areas of the body especially with bones and joints therefore to detect a range of body conditions. They’re also sometimes used to detect problems affecting soft tissues and internal organs.
X-rays are a type of radiation that passes through your body. A special machine puts out an amount of radiation and it is captured on a special device to produce your body image after the radiation passes through your body. As they pass through the body, the X-ray beam is absorbed at different level by different parts of the body. A detector picks up the X-rays after they’ve passed through and turns them into body images. For example, bones show up as clear white areas as it is more dense therefore X-rays find it more difficult to pass through; heart shows up as darker areas as it is less dense therefore X-rays can pass through it easily.
X-rays are used to examine most areas of the body. They’re used to look at bones and joint but they are sometimes used to detect problems in soft tissues and organs. Some examples include:
We are often concerned about being exposed to radiation during x-rays. However, our body will only be exposed to a low level of radiation for less than a second. The amount of radiation exposed during an x-ray is around the amount between a few days and a few months of exposure to natural environmental radiation. The risk of x-rays causing cancer is thought to be very small. An x-ray in a pregnant woman poses no known risk to the baby if the area imaged is not the abdomen or pelvis. Doctors prefer to use MRI and ultrasound for those two areas. Talk to your radiographer about potential risks beforehand if you have any concerns.
At Lakeside Chiropractic, we utilise a number of treatment modalities which are backed by scientific evidence and tailor treatment plans to each individual to incorporate advice and exercises to optimise your health and wellbeing. Our chiropractors here can refer you for x-rays that are bulk billed. For more information about X-rays, give us a call on 9300 0095 or visit our website at www.lakesidechiro.com.au to book an appointment.
1. The physics of medical x-ray imaging (Book) | OSTI.GOV
2. X-ray contrast media—an overview - ScienceDirect
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