How Do X Rays Affect The Human Body?

How Do X-Rays Affect the Human Body?

Have you ever wondered what happens when you get an X-ray? At Baptist Health, we want you to be informed and feel confident about your care.
 
X-rays are a valuable tool that helps us see inside the body without needing surgery. They’re a fundamental part of modern medicine because they provide valuable information to your care team. When your physician needs answers quickly, these images are essential.

What Are X-Rays?

X-rays are a type of naturally occurring radiation. When you get an X-ray scan (also called a radiograph), a machine sends a beam through a specific part of your body. Because different tissues like bone and muscle absorb radiation at different rates, a detector captures a pattern.

This creates an image on a computer screen or film. The image allows your physician to see things like broken bones, tumors or signs of pneumonia. X-ray imaging is a painless, noninvasive way to look at the internal structures of your body.

Common Technologies That Use X-Rays

Several types of medical imaging use this technology. Some of the more common uses include:

• Radiography
• CT scans
• Fluoroscopy

Radiography is often used for capturing images of broken bones. A CT scan takes many images from different angles to create a detailed look at your organs. These images are reconstructed into slices by a computer.

Fluoroscopy works like a movie by showing real-time moving images. This is helpful when a physician needs to guide a device like a stent into a blood vessel during a heart procedure. It helps the team see exactly where the device is going while they work.

The Benefits of X-Ray Imaging

These scans are essential because they help physicians diagnose diseases and monitor how treatments are working. They can also support surgeries and other procedures. For example, mammograms are a specialized type of X-ray that can help find early signs of breast cancer when it’s easiest to treat.

Without these images, many conditions might go undetected until they become more serious. In almost every case, the benefit of getting an accurate and timely diagnosis far outweighs the small risks.

Understanding the Risks of X-Rays

While X-ray scans are very helpful, they do involve exposure to ionizing radiation. This type of energy has enough power to potentially damage DNA in the cells.

If you have many high-dose tests over your lifetime, there’s a small increase in the possibility of developing cancer later in life. Some parts of the body are more sensitive than others, and your age and sex can also play a role in your risk level.

To put the dose in perspective, healthcare providers compare it to the natural background radiation we get from the environment every day. For example, a chest X-ray equals about 10 days of natural radiation, a standard mammogram is the equivalent of about 34 days of natural radiation, and a CT scan of the abdomen equals approximately 2.6 years of natural radiation.

Ensuring X-Ray Safety

X-ray scans are performed following a principle called ALARA, which stands for "As Low As Reasonably Achievable." This means healthcare teams use the lowest dose of radiation possible to get the clear images they need.

Children are more sensitive to radiation than adults because their bodies are still growing. Extra care is taken when imaging younger patients to ensure their safety.

You can also take steps to protect your health. For example, you should tell your physician if you are pregnant or might be pregnant before you have an X-ray. It’s also a good idea to track your imaging history so you have a record of it.

Finally, remember that you can and should discuss any questions or concerns you have with your physician.

Learn More About X-Rays From Baptist Health

At Baptist Health, we’re committed to providing advanced care that’s safe and reliable. If you have questions about the use of X-rays, your care team can answer them. Our provider directory is a great resource for finding a Baptist Health physician if you don’t have one.