What does the doctor listen to with the stethoscope? Let's talk about auscultation!

You've probably experienced this whenever you've been to a doctor. The doctor takes that little device that's on his desk or around his neck, puts the cool, round end of it on your chest, and listens carefully. Sometimes he also puts it on your back. This is what we call auscultation in medicine. Simply put, it's listening to the sounds coming from inside your body. Although it's a very simple test, it tells the doctor a surprising amount of information about your health.

What exactly is auscultation?

Doctors have been listening to the sounds of our bodies since before the invention of the stethoscope. But back then, they didn't have a stethoscope. They listened to these sounds by putting their ears directly to the patient's chest or stomach. Imagine, isn't that a bit awkward? Even Dr. René Laennec, who invented the stethoscope, didn't like putting his ears to the patient's chest in this way. He first rolled up a piece of paper and shaped it into a funnel and placed it on the chest. Then he realized that the sounds in the chest were greatly amplified (amplified) when they passed through it. That idea was developed and the stethoscope you see today was created. When listening in this way, a doctor pays attention to several key points. Auscultation is a very safe and non-invasive test. It can also be done quickly and easily at any time, because every doctor has a stethoscope nearby.

How to listen to your heart?

You've probably heard your heart beating. " Lub-dub " "Lub-dub"... This is the basic sound of a healthy heart. The "lub" sound (S1) comes when two of the heart's valves (mitral and tricuspid valves) close. The "dub" sound (S2) comes when the other two valves (aortic and pulmonary valves) close. The doctor will place the stethoscope on four main areas of your chest. This is because the sound of a specific heart valve can be heard best from each of those areas. In addition to these valve closing sounds, the doctor will also hear the sounds of blood flowing and the vibrations of the heart tissue. His job is to distinguish between normal, healthy sounds and abnormal sounds that indicate a disease.

What do you look for when listening to the lungs?

After listening to your heart, your doctor will listen to your lungs. He will usually start on one side of your chest and move the stethoscope down. He will then move the stethoscope to the other side in the same way. He will then place the stethoscope on your back and do the same. As he does this, he will compare the sounds from both lungs. Sometimes, your doctor will ask you to lean forward and cross your arms across your chest . This will help your back muscles relax and increase the area of ​​your lungs (triangle of auscultation). This will help you hear the sounds more clearly. He will listen carefully to the sounds you make when you inhale (inspiration) and exhale (expiration). In addition to normal breathing sounds, if you have a medical condition, you may hear these unusual sounds:

Why do you put a stethoscope on your stomach?

Yes, the doctor will also put a stethoscope on your stomach and listen. Do you know why? Listen to the sounds coming from your intestines. When the food we eat is digested and moves down as waste, the intestines make a sound. If these sounds are absent or very faint, they may indicate constipation or intestinal obstruction (ileus). If these sounds are excessive and loud, they may be a sign of a condition such as diarrhea. Sometimes, even intestinal obstruction can be identified by these sounds.

Is this method outdated now?

Some may think that with all the advanced technology like CT scan and MRI scan, listening with this stethoscope is now an old-fashioned thing. True, there are several problems with the traditional stethoscope. The sounds are very subtle, it is difficult to hear in a noisy place, and you cannot let someone else hear what you hear. But today, solutions have come to this too. Electronic stethoscopes can amplify the sounds and hear them clearly. Also, the sounds heard can be recorded as a digital file and sent to another doctor for comments. This is very important in telemedicine. With some devices, you can also see an EKG (Electrocardiogram) showing the heartbeat pattern at the same time as listening to the heart sounds. However, auscultation has never been outdated. Because this allows the doctor to immediately get a basic idea of ​​​​your condition. Based on that idea, he can decide exactly what tests to do next. Therefore, unnecessary and costly tests are avoided. However, the success of this depends entirely on the doctor's skill, experience, and willingness to listen carefully . Auscultation, stethoscope, medical examination, heart sounds, lung sounds, bowel sounds, doctor