Conditions affecting these vessels, such as a thoracic aortic aneurysm , often can be detected through a chest X-ray. This coronary calcification is a marker for the presence of atherosclerosis, the No. 1 cause of coronary artery disease . Calcium deposits can also appear in the valves, the heart muscle or the pericardium, which is the sac that surrounds the heart. Your lungs may be affected by problems in your heart, or at other times a lung problem may mimic symptoms of heart disease. A chest X-ray provides a picture of your lungs that can help your doctor detect disease.
Fluid appears as a lighter area in the lungs on the film.
In the absence of any heart or lung disease, it may not be necessary to have a chest X-ray before age 40. It is reasonable to have a baseline chest X-ray at about age 40 and thereafter when your physician recommends it. Use of this site signifies your agreement to the terms of use . A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Walgreen Co. All rights reserved.