Is It Harmful To Expose Ourselves To Radiation During X-ray?

Posted on Sat, 6 Dec 2014

Question: Hi,
I've started having some back pains (in the upper part) one month ago and I experience sometimes heavy night sweats, but no fever or any other symptoms. I've visited my general physician, she listened to my lungs, which seemed to be fine (I don't have any problems breathing, not even when I exercise in the mornings), she prescribed me basic blood tests and a lung x-ray. In the blood test (full blood count and the sedimentation speed) everything was in the normal range. Should I still go for an x-ray? I want to avoid get radiation for nothing (since I've got a tooth x-ray last month) Many thanks

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry much for radiation exposure.

Detailed Answer:
Hello, thanks for your question on HCM.

I think you should not worry much about radiation exposure. As chest x ray carries very low radiation.

Single chest x ray is Not harmful to the body.

And since you have had upper back pain and night sweats for 1 month, we need to rule out chronic infections like TB or fungus in lungs. That is why chest x ray was asked for by your doctor. And there is no harm in using the chest x ray to rule out early infection.

Blood reports can be normal in early infections.

So I advise you to get done chest x ray to be at safer side.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj