Also known as a chest radiograph, a chest X-ray is a painless and non-invasive procedure that produces high-quality images of the chest cavity. This includes the heart, lungs, chest and spinal bones, and blood vessels. 

The chest X-ray is conducted for a variety of reasons, such as ascertaining the condition of your lungs, determining lung issues caused due to heart ailments, and checking for calcium deposits.

X-ray is a painless and quick outpatient procedure that is easily done at a clinic with no need for hospitalisation.

X-ray uses radioactive beams that pass through the body, wherein the various body parts block the radiation, thus translating it into an image. 

The denser the body part, the more radiation it will block, resulting in a clearer picture. The blocked radiation displays the body parts in various shades in the test report. 

As the X-ray scan uses radiation for the procedure, it’s a common misconception that it can lead to cell mutations, causing cancer. 

While radiation is indeed absorbed by the body, the radiation levels are extremely low, thus making it a safe image diagnostic test. 

Caution: The chest X-ray is not recommended for pregnant women or those planning pregnancy due to the radiation emitted during the procedure.