What should you know about a chest X-ray?

The image may help identify changes linked with infection, fluid, inflammation, lung scarring or an enlarged heart. It can support assessment of conditions such as pneumonia, bronchiectasis, chronic cough or tuberculosis, but a normal image does not explain every breathing or chest symptom. The appearance must be considered with your examination, symptoms and medical history. Sometimes another scan, a sample or repeat imaging is needed to clarify an abnormal finding.

Tell the imaging team if you are pregnant or might be pregnant, and remove jewellery or clothing that could obscure the picture. You may be asked to stand against the detector, take a deep breath and hold it briefly while the image is taken. The test itself should not hurt. Follow the clinician's plan for reviewing the report; do not start or stop treatment based on an image you have not discussed.

Contact a clinician promptly for a cough that persists, fever with worsening breathing, coughing blood, unexplained weight loss or chest pain. Call emergency services for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, collapse, confusion or crushing chest pressure. A chest X-ray appointment should not delay urgent help for severe symptoms.

Ask why the image was requested, when the report will be available, whether the finding explains your symptoms, and whether you need further imaging or a tuberculosis screening test.