This iconic medical tool has an enduring role
The stethoscope has been around for nearly 200 years and is still draped across every physician’s neck or tucked into lab coat pockets. No other medical device can boast a longer life or more useful purpose.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
But you may wonder what doctors are actually listening for when they place that cool metal cone against your chest. Cardiologist Umesh Khot, MD, lets us “listen in” on what your heart has to say.
“The most important assessment is whether it’s normal,” he says. “If the heart sound is normal, meaning that there’s a regular beat without any murmurs, that’s a pretty good sign of heart health.”
1. Irregular rhythm: “Sometimes you hear an extra beat, sometimes it’s a skipped beat or it can be bouncing all over,” says Dr. Khot. “We can’t tell what the problem is that’s causing it, but we can get a sense of whether it’s in rhythm.”
2. Heart “murmurs:” A murmur itself isn’t the problem; the abnormal sounds — “whooshing” noises that vary widely — indicate a potential problem. “These signify blood flow problems within the heart, usually a problem with the valves,” Dr. Khot says. “The pitch and where it is in the heart can tell us what the valve problem is. We do additional testing to find out if it’s significant or not.”
3. Signs of congestive heart failure: These sounds are picked up by listening to the heart and lungs for both abnormal heart function and fluid in the lungs.
No matter what physicians hear through a stethoscope, it’s not enough to make a diagnosis. But such exams usually prompt further testing to uncover the cause of abnormal or irregular heartbeats.
Even the tried-and-true stethoscope is evolving with technology:
Despite these recent developments, the traditional stethoscope, without all the bells and whistles, is an enduring part of practicing medicine, says Dr. Khot.
“There’s a lot of evidence that the findings on this exam are powerful in diagnosing how sick a patient is,” he says. “Within five or 10 minutes, you can get a quick sense of whether the person is sick and in need of emergency therapy to save their life.”
Learn more about our editorial process.
First things first — slowly sit or lie down
Absolutely! In fact, in many ways, exercise is key to recovery
There’s no way to stop it once a heart attack is happening, but the most important thing you can do is to call for help
You can counter the risk of prediabetes-related heart attack or stroke by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as well as exercising regularly
An ideal blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic
Age, sex and genetics are just a few factors that can affect your risk of developing coronary heart disease
LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) cholesterol are more likely to stick to your arteries and lead to dangerous heart events
Having underweight, having overweight and having obesity can be dangerous for your heart
Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity
A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses