An urgent care X-ray is a typical radiographic test that helps your physician do a non-surgical internal test in your body. It helps in diagnosing, monitoring, and treating various medical symptoms. It is among the basic procedures doctors would recommend for heart or lung disease.

Although there are patients apprehensive about X-rays, even up to now, because of the risks involved, the benefits still outweigh the risks, and your doctor recommends it as needed only to help in treating your condition more accurately. 

Your doctor may order an X-ray to inspect a painful region, track the course of an illness, or evaluate the effectiveness of ongoing treatments. 

The following are the most frequent problems that urgent care X-rays can reveal:

1. Lung Problems

Chest X-rays can detect cancer, inflammation, or infection in the lungs. X-rays can reveal if you have a chronic lung condition like cystic fibrosis, emphysema, COPD, and several other conditions, making it a vital part of diagnosing lung conditions.

2. Heart-Related Lung Problems

Another condition that a chest X-ray can reveal is abnormalities in your lungs caused by heart problems. When pulmonary edema happens to you or when fluid accumulates in your lungs, the problem can be beyond your lungs. It may be caused by severe heart conditions such as congestive heart failure.

3. Heart Conditions

X-rays can easily show the size and shape of your heart. Any abnormalities can indicate various heart conditions such as enlarged heart, congenital heart disease, heart failure, pericardial effusion (fluid buildup), or malfunctions in your heart valves. 

4. Blood Vessel Abnormalities

Aside from the shape, size, and outline of your heart, the aorta, pulmonary arteries, and veins of your heart can also be detected via X-ray. It can detect congenital heart disease, aortic aneurysms, and other severe blood vessel issues in patients.

5. Calcium Deposits

Chest X-rays can reveal the existence of calcium deposits in your heart or blood vessels, which indicates that your heart valves, heart muscle, coronary arteries, or the protective sac around the heart are damaged. It can also detect calcium deposits in your lungs caused by a previous infection or disease. 

6. Arthritis and Osteoporosis

When a patient complains of bone discomfort, the doctor may order an X-ray to rule out arthritis or osteoporosis, frequently difficult to detect on the surface.

Often, patients won’t even realize they have it until they are in their later stages. It is why an X-ray is crucial to detect them at the onset to help doctors recommend appropriate care immediately.

7. Potential Fractures

If you have any numbness, soreness, or pain in your limbs, an X-ray can check if it’s from a potential injury or fracture that must not be ignored, as it can aggravate microfractures to more severe injuries. 

8. Postoperative Changes

When a patient has had chest surgery in the lungs, heart, or esophagus, X-rays can help monitor recovery progress or lack thereof. Your doctor can examine any lines or tubes implanted after surgery to ensure no air leaks or fluid buildup.

9. Hidden Infections

An inside infection might be one of the most challenging things to identify at times. Diseases within the body might remain dormant for weeks or even months, developing without the patient being aware of the problem.

With an X-ray scan, you can discover the source of the problem and detect any anomaly in its earliest phases, allowing your doctor to recommend appropriate treatments immediately.

10. A Pacemaker, Defibrillator, or Catheter

A chest X-ray usually is taken after the placement of a pacemaker and defibrillator in a patient. It can show if the position is correct, especially since pacemakers and defibrillators have lead content attached to the heart to maintain regular heart rate and rhythm. 

X-rays can also check for catheters, which are small tubings necessary to release medications or for dialysis. 

Conclusion

Conditions that may call for an X-ray also include cancers, tumors, digestive problems, blocked blood vessels, tooth decay, or if a patient has swallowed indigestible items by accident and many others. 

An urgent care X-ray is critical to detect severe conditions before they get worse, so if your doctor requires one, trust that it is in your best interest. Finding out about these issues early on will help your doctor swiftly give a treatment plan before your condition worsens. That said, never hesitate to get one!

Aspen Medical Center is the only locally owned outpatient medical clinic providing quality primary care and urgent care in Santa Fe and Espanola, NM. Allow our cutting-edge services and facilities to make a difference—book an appointment today.