Can a stethoscope detect heart problems?

In many cases, heart murmurs
heart murmurs
Heart murmurs are unique heart sounds produced when blood flows across a heart valve or blood vessel. This occurs when turbulent blood flow creates a sound loud enough to hear with a stethoscope. Turbulent blood flow is not smooth. The sound differs from normal heart sounds by their characteristics.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Heart_murmur
and other abnormal heart sounds can only be detected when your doctor listens to your heart using a stethoscope
. You may not notice any outward signs or symptoms. In some cases, you may notice signs or symptoms of an underlying heart condition.
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Can you detect heart disease with stethoscope?

Stethoscope check

Diagnosis starts with a simple step – listening to the heart with a stethoscope. To diagnose heart valve disease, the doctor needs to use a stethoscope to listen for the characteristic heart “murmur” or “click-murmur” which is usually the first indication of a heart valve disorder.
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Can a doctor detect heart problems by listening to your heart?

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.
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Can you hear a heart attack with stethoscope?

During the early hours of a heart attack, heart murmurs and other abnormal heart sounds may be heard through a stethoscope.
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Can a stethoscope detect clogged arteries?

Physical Exam

Your doctor can hear a bruit when placing a stethoscope over an affected artery. A bruit may indicate poor blood flow due to plaque. Your doctor also may check to see whether any of your pulses (for example, in the leg or foot) are weak or absent. A weak or absent pulse can be a sign of a blocked artery.
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Heart Sounds and Heart Murmurs, Animation.



How do I know if my heart is OK?

Diagnostic tests could include blood tests, cardiac CT scan, cardiac MRI, cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography, echocardiography, stress testing, electrocardiogram and others.
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What are the signs of an unhealthy heart?

11 Common signs of an unhealthy heart
  • Shortness of breath. ...
  • Chest discomfort. ...
  • Left shoulder pain. ...
  • Irregular heartbeat. ...
  • Heartburn, stomach pain or back pain. ...
  • Swollen feet. ...
  • Lack of stamina. ...
  • Sexual health problems.
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What does heart failure sound like stethoscope?

Overview. Heart murmurs are sounds — such as whooshing or swishing — made by rapid, choppy (turbulent) blood flow through the heart. The sounds can be heard with a device called a stethoscope.
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What are the 4 signs of an impending heart attack?

What are the symptoms of heart attack?
  • Chest pain or discomfort. ...
  • Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint. ...
  • Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back.
  • Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders.
  • Shortness of breath.
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How do you check for a heart blockage at home?

Place your index and middle finger of your hand on the hollow part of your inner wrist of the other arm, just below the base of the thumb. You should feel a tapping or pulse against your fingers, that is your heartbeat. Look at your watch and count the number of taps you feel in 10 seconds.
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What can Dr hear with stethoscope?

What is a stethoscope? The stethoscope is a device that helps physicians or healthcare providers listen to the internal organs, such as lungs, heart and bowel sounds, and it is also used to check blood pressure. It helps to amplify the internal sounds.
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Why do cardiologists look at your neck?

Finally, examining your neck can reveal possible circulatory problems. Your healthcare provider uses 2 fingers on each side of your neck to feel your carotid pulses. The right and left carotid arteries supply blood to your brain. Weak pulses could show a problem with the aortic valve or with the aorta.
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What does a healthy heart sound like?

A normal heartbeat has two sounds, a lub (sometimes called S1) and a dub (S2). These sounds are caused by the closing of valves inside your heart. If there are problems in your heart, there may be additional or abnormal sounds.
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Can you feel a heart murmur in your chest?

Many people with heart murmurs have no symptoms. But some murmurs can happen along with these other symptoms: Chest pain. Rapid heartbeat (palpitations)
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What are the first signs of a weak heart?

Signs of a Weakened Heart Muscle
  • Shortness of breath (also known as dyspnea), particularly when you lie down or exert yourself.
  • Chest pain, especially a heavy sensation in your chest indicative of heart failure caused by a heart attack.
  • Fatigue.
  • Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet (also known as edema)
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How can I test myself for a heart attack?

Signs of a heart attack include:

- Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. - Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. - Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness. (If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately.)
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What does a blocked artery feel like?

The symptoms of an artery blockage include chest pain and tightness, and shortness of breath. Imagine driving through a tunnel. On Monday, you encounter a pile of rubble. There is a narrow gap, big enough to drive through.
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What is a cardiac cough?

It's a type of coughing or wheezing that occurs with left heart failure. Depending on how severe the symptoms are, this wheezing can be a medical emergency. Heart failure can cause fluid to build up in the lungs (pulmonary edema) and in and around the airways.
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What does cardiac cough sound like?

You may experience a persistent cough or wheezing (a whistling sound in the lungs or laboured breathing) due to your heart failure. The wheezing is similar to asthma but has a different cause in heart failure.
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Can you hear congestive heart failure?

Listening to the heart sounds may uncover abnormal beats called gallops that are heard in heart failure. Murmurs may help diagnose heart valve disease.
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Can blood tests detect heart problems?

Tests you may have to diagnose heart failure include: blood tests – to check whether there's anything in your blood that might indicate heart failure or another illness. an electrocardiogram (ECG) – this records the electrical activity of your heart to check for problems.
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Can unhealthy heart heal?

Unfortunately, there isn't a cure for coronary artery disease, and you can't reverse this condition once you're diagnosed. But you can make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of developing further health problems, such as a heart attack.
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What is the best test for heart blockage?

A CT scan of the heart can show calcium deposits and blockages in the heart arteries. Calcium deposits can narrow the arteries. Sometimes dye is given by IV during this test. The dye helps create detailed pictures of the heart arteries.
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Where is heart pain located?

Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes – or it may go away and then return. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Discomfort in other areas of the upper body.
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