by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Aug 2, 2025 | Blog, Heart Health, Lung Health, Pulmonary Health
Chest X-rays are quick, noninvasive imaging tests that provide a detailed picture of the structures inside your chest, including your heart, lungs, airways, and bones.
A chest X-ray is often one of the first steps your doctor might recommend when evaluating symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, or fatigue. And at NJ Cardiovascular Institute, Kunal Patel, MD, and his team use chest X-rays as part of a comprehensive approach to diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of heart conditions.
When your doctor might recommend a chest X-ray
Dr. Patel may refer you for a chest X-ray if you’re experiencing new or unexplained symptoms like shortness of breath, chest discomfort, persistent coughing, or fatigue. It’s also a standard part of many routine cardiac evaluations and preoperative assessments.
Because chest X-rays are fast, accessible, and carry minimal radiation exposure, they can be a reliable first step in identifying or ruling out serious health concerns.
During the procedure, you stand or lie still while a small amount of radiation captures detailed images of the structures inside your chest. The entire process usually takes just a few minutes and gives your care team the ability to closely evaluate your heart, lungs, and surrounding bones.
What chest X-rays can show
A few things we might evaluate are:
Changes in heart size and shape
One of the most important things a chest X-ray can reveal is the size and shape of your heart. An enlarged heart may indicate underlying conditions like high blood pressure, heart failure, or cardiomyopathy.
If Dr. Patel suspects a cardiovascular issue, this simple imaging test can offer important clues about how well your heart is functioning and whether further testing — such as an echocardiogram or stress test — is needed.
Lung and airway conditions
Chest X-rays can also help evaluate your lungs and airways. They can detect infections like pneumonia, chronic conditions like COPD, or complications like fluid buildup in or around your lungs.
A chest X-ray may also show signs of lung nodules or masses that require additional imaging. If you’re experiencing respiratory symptoms, this test helps differentiate between heart-related and lung-related causes of discomfort.
Signs of fluid or inflammation
Sometimes chest pain or breathing issues are caused by fluid accumulation in the pleural space (pleural effusion) or around the heart (pericardial effusion). These conditions are often visible on a chest X-ray and help us make more informed decisions about your care.
Inflammation from infections or autoimmune diseases can also be identified through certain patterns visible on the image, guiding Dr. Patel toward an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
How well medical devices are working
If you have a pacemaker, defibrillator, or central venous catheter, a chest X-ray can confirm that the device is in the correct position. We also use chest X-rays to track the progress of a diagnosed condition or monitor how well a treatment is working.
At NJ Cardiovascular Institute, we use chest X-rays in conjunction with other diagnostic tools to provide complete, ongoing care for patients with chronic or complex conditions. If you’re experiencing symptoms — or if you have concerns about your heart or lungs — we’re here to help.
Schedule a consultation at one of our clinics in Elizabeth, Lakewood, Paramus, and Secaucus, New Jersey, and take the first step toward clarity and peace of mind when it comes to your heart health.
by NJ Cardiovascular Institute | Dec 11, 2023 | Blog, Lung Health, Pulmonary Health
Breathing is a vital and complicated process. The first step is inhaling (also called inhalation or inspiration) where your diaphragm contracts, causing a vacuum in your chest and drawing air into your lungs. The air enters through your mouth and nose, then moves through your trachea (windpipe) and into your lungs. The lungs extract oxygen and send it through your bloodstream to all of your cells.
When you have shortness of breath (dyspnea), it’s a sign that your breathing is not normal. It may result from a minor issue or could indicate an illness that requires medical attention.
If you live in the Secaucus, Elizabeth, Paramus, or Lakewood, New Jersey, area and you’re struggling with breathing problems like dyspnea, Dr. Kunal Patel and our dedicated medical team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute can help you get it under control.
To determine when you need to see a doctor about shortness of breath, let’s examine the types of dyspnea, the common causes, and what symptoms may signal a need for medical help.
Types of dyspnea
The abnormal respiration associated with shortness of breath comes in several forms, including:
Orthopnea: a sensation of breathlessness while lying down, often connected with heart failure
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND): a feeling of breathlessness that forces you awake from sleep
Sleep apnea: a sleeping problem where you have extended pauses in breathing as you sleep due to obstructions in your airway
Hypoventilation or bradypnea: labored, shallow, and slow breathing
Hyperventilation: rapid, shallow breathing (also known as overbreathing) caused by anxiety, panic, or chemical imbalance
Common causes of dyspnea
Shortness of breath can be either acute (happens for a short period of time) or chronic (long-lasting or recurring) and causes a “tightness” in your chest that feels like you’re working harder to breathe normally.
Feeling short of breath is a common problem that may be caused by lung problems, circulation-related illnesses, environmental factors, or medications.
Lung problems
Any illness that creates airway problems — like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), respiratory infections, inflamed lungs, pneumonia, pleural effusion, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary hypertension — can lead to dyspnea.
Circulation-related illnesses
Anemia, heart failure, heart muscle problems (cardiomyopathy), abnormal heart rhythm, and heart inflammation can all lead to issues with breathing properly.
Environmental factors
Mold spores, dust, and other particulates in the air can lead to allergy and asthma symptoms, which can compromise breathing during an attack and lead to shortness of breath.
Medications
Drugs like cholesterol-lowering statins and beta blockers used for treating high blood pressure can also have shortness of breath as a side effect.
Signs you need medical help
By itself, shortness of breath can be a cause for concern, but if it presents with other signs and symptoms, like ankle and feet swelling, trouble breathing when lying flat, chills, cough, high fever, or wheezing, then you need to get medical help.
Other serious symptoms to look out for include chest pain, bluish lips, nausea, fainting, or changes in mental awareness, which can be due to a pulmonary embolism or heart attack.
If you’re experiencing shortness of breath, make an appointment with Dr. Patel and our team at NJ Cardiovascular Institute today. You deserve to breathe easier.
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