If you've been suffering from a persistent cough that has lasted several weeks, getting a chest X-ray is a good idea. An X-ray can help identify the cause, whether it's an infection like pneumonia, an abnormality such as fluid buildup, a lung mass, or another underlying condition

You can eat and drink as normal beforehand and can continue taking your usual medications. However, you may need to stop taking certain medications and avoid eating and drinking for a few hours if you're having an X-ray that uses a contrast agent (see contrast X-rays below)

A chest X-ray is a painless, noninvasive procedure with few risks.

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