Question - Heart Disorders Message Board

spencer123 · 08-11-2005, 06:34 PM

Does anybody know if doctors can tell if the heart is enlarged or if there is any damage to the heart just by listening to it with a stethoscope? I'm wondering why when i go to the doctor he checks heartbeat with his stethoscope in my chest, stomach, back and all over the place. Also, can they tell if there is fluid in the lungs?

Reason i'm wondering this is because when i went to the doctor all he did was listen to my heart and he said that he doesnt think there is anything wrong my biggest fear is cardiomyopathy and with my anxiety disorder i tend to think myself into believing i have it which makes me suffer soo much. I actually get my mind off of my heart for a few mins and then this pops in my head

YOU GOT CARDIOMYOPATHY!

and then i get all worried again..

UKMale22 · 08-11-2005, 06:46 PM

I think hes listening to hear if youre airways are clear.Dont use the internet to diagnose yourself otherwise you will end up thinking you have every serious illness.All the best.

born2bwild · 08-12-2005, 12:47 AM

He listens to your heart in all different areas as he can detect such things as murmurs, bruits, fluid and for abnormal heart sounds. Your heart has four chambers and has normal sounds throughout each one, when he listens to each chamber he can hear if the swooching and lub dubing are moving in the appropriate pattern. If someone has a heart murmur he can tell by listening and detect where it is in the heart. he may be able to detect valve regurgitation, aortic aneurysm, cardiac tamponade and many other things. I noticed in one of your other post that you questioned having an enlarged heart? A simple chest xray will show an enlarged heart but would require further testing such as an echo or TEE. Sometimes an EKG can show you have an enlarged right or left side?

spencer123 · 08-12-2005, 01:43 AM

But i have read that when your heart is enlarged murmurs and other things happen that can be heard with the stethoscope. So if when he does all this with his stethoscope and it is all normal would it be safe to assume that my heart is in tact and not enlarged? I've also read that feeling the area with hands or tapping the area with fingers can indicate an enlarged heart.

Lenin · 08-12-2005, 04:45 AM

I'm beginning to think that the stethoscope, invented in 1816, is quickly becoming one of those things that shows "who's the doctor." Like the white smock.

A stethoscope can show a heart murmur or MAYBE pneumonia but little else and both of these conditions would then have to be checked out with better testing methods. My doctor even misdiagnosed my pneumonia as a "cold." I guess some are better than others with the primitive instrument.

He can't tell if a heart is enlarged with a stethoscope, spencer. Getting an OK after a stethascope exam shouldn't give one much comfort.