X-Ray: Purpose, Procedure, And Risks - Healthline

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HealthlineSubscribeWhat to Know About X-Rays

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Brian Krans — Updated on November 27, 2025

How they work
What they're used for
Preparation
Procedure
After an X-ray
Possible side effects or risks
Takeaway

An X-ray is a common, noninvasive imaging test that helps doctors examine structures in your body without making any incisions. Healthcare professionals may use X-rays to evaluate bone breaks, tumors, infections, and many other conditions.

X-rays use radiation to produce images. They’re simple procedures that typically don’t require any particular preparation.

Radiation exposure may increase cancer risk, but the risk associated with X-rays is generally very low. For most people, the benefits of X-rays outweigh the risks.

How X-rays work

X-rays produce images by sending out waves of electromagnetic radiation. The waves pass through the body and are absorbed by different parts of your body at different rates depending on how dense the body parts are.

For example, bones are very dense and absorb much of the radiation, and therefore appear white on the resulting image (radiograph). Muscles and other tissues, which are less dense, appear darker and more translucent.

What X-rays are used for

Healthcare professionals can use X-rays for various purposes, including:

examining an area where you’re experiencing pain or discomfort
monitoring the progression of a diagnosed disease, such as osteoporosis
checking how well a prescribed treatment is working

Conditions that may require an X-ray include:

bone cancer
enlarged heart
conditions affecting your lungs
certain digestive problems
fractures
infections
osteoporosis
arthritis
tooth decay
needing to retrieve swallowed items

»Discover:Does Medicare cover X-rays?

Preparing for an X-ray

X-rays are standard procedures that often don’t require any special preparation.

Depending on the area that your doctor and radiologist are examining, you may want to wear loose, comfortable clothing that you can easily move around in and remove. They may ask you to change into a hospital gown for the test.

You’ll also need to remove jewelry, eyeglasses, or other metallic items from your body before your X-ray is taken.

Always tell your doctor or radiologist if you have metal implants from prior surgeries. These implants can block X-rays from passing through your body and may prevent a clear image.

In some cases, you may need to receive a contrast agent or dye before your X-ray. This is a substance that will help highlight certain body structures. It may contain iodine or barium compounds.

Depending on the reason for the X-ray, the contrast dye may be given in different ways, including:

via a liquid that you swallow
injected into your body
given to you as an enema before your test

If you’re having an X-ray to examine your gastrointestinal tract, your doctor may ask you to fast for a certain amount of time beforehand. You will need to avoid eating anything while you fast. You may also need to avoid or limit drinking certain liquids. In some cases, they may also ask you to take medications to clear out your bowels.

X-ray procedure

An X-ray technologist or radiologist can perform an X-ray in a hospital’s radiology department, a dentist’s office, or a clinic that specializes in diagnostic procedures.

Depending on the part of the body your care team is examining, you may need to wear a vest or apron containing lead that keeps radiation from reaching other body areas.

Once you’re fully prepared, your X-ray technician or radiologist will tell you how to position your body to create clear images. They may ask you to lie down, sit, or stand in several positions during the test.

They may take images while you stand in front of a specialized plate that contains X-ray film or sensors. In some cases, they may also ask you to lie or sit on a specialized plate and move a large camera connected to a steel arm over your body to capture X-ray images.

It’s important to stay still while the images are being taken. This will provide the clearest images possible.

The test is finished as soon as your radiologist is satisfied with the images gathered.

X-rays are usually short procedures; for example, a chest X-ray typically only takes about 15 minutes to complete. However, the test may be longer or shorter depending on which area of the body your care team is imaging, the symptom or condition they’re evaluating, and how the images turn out.

After an X-ray

After your X-ray images have been collected, you can change back into your regular clothes. Depending on your condition, your doctor may allow you to resume your typical activities, or they may tell you to rest while you’re waiting for your results.

Your results may be available on the same day as your procedure or later. Your doctor will review your X-rays and the report from the radiologist to determine how to proceed.

Depending on your results, they may order additional tests to develop an accurate diagnosis. For example, they may order additional imaging scans, blood tests, or other diagnostic measures. They may also prescribe a course of treatment.

Ask your doctor for more information about your specific condition, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Possible side effects or risks

X-rays use small amounts of radiation to create images of your body, and radiation exposure can increase the risk of DNA damage and cancer. However, the National Cancer Institute notes that the cancer risk is small, and for most people, the benefits of the test outweigh the risks.

The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering also notes that there are no known risks to a developing baby as long as areas being imaged aren’t near the pelvis or abdomen. If you’re pregnant or believe you could be pregnant, tell your doctor before you undergo an X-ray. They may suggest a different imaging method, such as an MRI.

Children are also more sensitive to the radiation produced by X-rays. X-ray machines can be adjusted to be safer for children, or they may need to undergo a different type of imaging test.

If you’re having an X-ray done to help diagnose or manage a painful condition, such as a broken bone, you may experience pain or discomfort during the test.

You will need to hold your body in certain positions while the images are being taken. This may cause you pain or discomfort. Your doctor may recommend taking pain medication beforehand.

If you receive a contrast material before your X-ray, it may cause side effects. These include:

hives
itching
nausea
lightheadedness
a metallic taste in your mouth

In very rare cases, the dye may cause a severe reaction. Your care team will be prepared to manage any reactions that occur.

»Explore:X-rays vs. MRIs

Takeaway

X-rays are standard imaging tests that are generally safe for most people. They can be used to evaluate, diagnose, and monitor many conditions, including bone issues, lung problems, and more.

If your doctor recommends an X-ray for a symptom or condition, ask them about preparation and possible risks based on your specific health situation.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Chest X-ray. (2024). https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/chestrad
Facts about X-rays. (2024). https://www.cdc.gov/radiation-health/data-research/facts-stats/x-rays.html
Kaller MO, et al. (2023). Contrast agent toxicity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537159/
Medical X-rays. (2025). https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/medical-x-rays
Radiation. (2019). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation
Tafti A, et al. (2022). X-ray image acquisition. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563236/
Tafti A, et al. (2022). X-ray radiographic patient positioning.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565865/

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C — Written by Brian Krans — Updated on November 27, 2025

X-Ray: Purpose, Procedure, And Risks - Healthline

How X-rays work

What X-rays are used for

Preparing for an X-ray

X-ray procedure

After an X-ray

Possible side effects or risks

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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