X-Ray

X-Ray services offered in Downtown, Wilmington, NC

X-ray technology is a great way to reach a diagnosis as quickly as possible, and is among the services available from Umar Bowers, MD, Tiffany Bowers, FNP-C, Caitlin Jacobs, FNP-C, and Sandy Taylor, FNP-C, of Dawson Med in Wilmington, North Carolina. When you come in for urgent care visits, this diagnostic tool is one of many that can put you on a path toward relief. Walk-in visits are available for urgent care, and you can book less time-sensitive visits online or by phone.

X-Ray Q&A

What is an X-ray?

X-rays are a type of radiation similar to the light you see every day. Because x-rays have more energy than visible light, they’re able to pass through many objects, including your body.

In medical settings, x-rays are used to create images of your internal tissues and structures. When having an x-ray performed, you stand, sit, or lie still while the x-ray equipment generates x-rays that pass through your body. An x-ray detector is positioned on the other side of your body to measure and record the x-rays that pass through.

As the x-rays pass through, they are absorbed at different rates by your tissues. Dense tissues with higher atomic weights absorb more x-rays than less dense tissue types. The result is an image called a radiograph that shows dense tissues as white, and less dense tissue in shades of gray.

When are x-rays necessary?

X-rays are valuable diagnostic tools that have a number of uses. There are also different types of x-rays used for various purposes.

Some of the uses for medical x-rays include:

Diagnosing broken bones
Screening for arthritis
Screening for osteoporosis
Assessing blocked blood vessels
Diagnosing lung conditions
Screening for various types of cancer
Determining how well cancer treatment is working

If your practitioner feels an x-ray is a good fit for your needs, you’ll learn more about what to expect from the process and how this tool aligns with other diagnostic efforts.

Is it safe to get an x-ray?

X-rays do expose you to radiation, which is linked to cancer. However, the amount of radiation you receive during a modern x-ray is minimal and varies depending on the type of x-ray you’re having.

The benefits of x-rays in achieving accurate and timely diagnostic outcomes far outweighs the minimal risk posed by radiation exposure. It’s also helpful to understand that you’re exposed to radiation each and every day from the air, the earth, and a range of industrial and commercial sources.

If you have questions or concerns about the safety of medical x-rays, feel free to discuss them during your visit. Setting up an appointment is as simple as a phone call or a visit to the online scheduling page.