What Is a Stethoscope For?
A stethoscope is a diagnostic instrument used for listening to sounds produced within the human body, such as the heart, abdomen and lungs, which are the most common organs for inspection. Medical professionals, such as pulmonologists and cardiologists, use it in their daily medical practices. It is one of the vital diagnostic instruments in determining a proper diagnosis of the patient's body.
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Significance
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The stethoscope is an important medical instrument that health care professionals use to diagnose disease, especially for the lung and heart. Medical practitioners listen for signals that indicate any irregularities of the body, which can come in the form of things like wheezing for asthma or heart murmurs or heart arrhythmia. They also use the stethoscope to hear the blood flow in pulse areas during blood pressure readings.
Identification
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There are five parts that comprise the stethoscope. The ear tips, which allow sound to be amplified and heard by the clinician, are joined to the ear tubes, which are rotatable metal spines that bend to give comfort to the wearer. The tubing carries the sound from the sound to the chest piece. The double-sided chest piece is positioned onto the body to listen for blood pressure or abnormalities. Lastly, the chill ring gives a barrier between the patient's skin and the chest piece.
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Types
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There are three types of stethoscopes used in the medical field. The acoustic stethoscope is ordinarily used by all health care practitioners. The electric stethoscope is utilized to significantly amplify the sounds heard in the body. This is extremely useful in ambulances, noisy hospitals and clinics. Lastly, there is the fetal stethoscope, which helps the physician listen to the heartbeat of a fetus in a pregnant woman.
Facts
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On the medical market today exist electronic stethoscopes that come with a feature to digitally record any sounds it captures and renders it into a MP3 file. This item is primarily used for studies, so medical researchers can listen to the previously recorded auscultations at any time and as many times as they want. Digital recordings from electronic stethoscopes are also used for diagnosing remotely when the medical practitioner is not on site to give a diagnosis.
Warning
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Ensure that ear pieces of the stethoscope are cleaned and sanitized after use. When not properly cleaned, ear pieces collect dirt and bacteria, becoming a vector for spreading illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia. Also, take heed when using the stethoscope head to listen to sounds; any sudden burst of loud noise can cause deafness temporarily.
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