Many tend to wonder about the benefits of COPD X-rays. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a severe lung disease that causes different breathing issues.
What exactly are COPD X-rays?
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are knows are the most common conditions that occur because of COPD. Emphysema, unfortunately, injures small air sacs in your lungs. On the other hand, chronic bronchitis causes your airways to be continuously inflamed and irritated with increased mucus production.
If you suffer from COPD, you may produce a lot of mucus, feel chest tightness, have trouble breathing, and have other symptoms depending on your condition’s rigor.
You may have to go through a few tests if your doctor suspects you have COPD. One of these tests is a chest X-ray.
A chest X-ray is non-invasive, painless, and extremely quick. It works by using electromagnetic waves to help create pictures of your lungs, diaphragm, ribcage, and heart. In addition, it is one of the many tests you may need to help diagnose COPD.
How exactly do you prepare for a chest X-ray?
You really don’t have to do a lot to prepare for your X-ray. First, will need to wear a hospital gown instead of your regular clothes. After that, you may need to wear a lead apron to product your reproductive organs from radiation emitted by the X-ray.
If needed, you will need to remove jewelry.
You may need to stand up or lie down for your X-ray. It really depends on the symptoms you have. Most of the time, a chest X-ray occurs while you are standing.
If your doctor sees fluid around your lungs, called pleural effusion, you may need to take additional images while lying on your side.
Usually, your doctor will take two images: one from the side and the front. A doctor will have these images available immediately for review.
What exactly does an X-ray show?
One sign of COPD that can show on an X-ray is hyperinflated lungs. This could mean your lungs look larger than usual. In addition, your diaphragm may look flatter and lower than expected, and your heart may look a bit longer than usual.
A COPD X-ray may not reveal much if the condition is chronic bronchitis. However, with emphysema, more structural problems regarding the lungs can be seen on an X-ray.
What happens if I don’t have COPD?
It is important to know that chest discomfort is caused by other things aside from COPD. Your doctor will examine for other possible issues if your chest X-ray doesn’t show signs of COPD.
A chest X-ray provides valuable information about your blood vessels and heart. Furthermore, examples include your blood vessel size, heart size, calcification, and much more!
Furthermore, it can also reveal significant issues with the bones in and around your chest. In fact, many of these could cause chest pain.
Are you in need of COPD X-rays?
We hope it is a bit clear about how COPD X-rays work and are beneficial! Internal Medicine Diagnostic Center is here to help with all of your chest related issues and concerns! We are your local internal medicine experts in Magnolia, Texas, and we want to ensure you have expert care for all of your chest needs! Call us today at 281-252-8600 . You can also visit our website at https://mytexasmd.com/.