Why are stethoscopes necessary?

Medical Professionals Need to Hear What is Going on Inside Our Bodies

Stethoscopes enable medical professionals to hear the sounds produced by our internal cavities, organs and blood vessels. Some of the sounds audible with the aid of a stethoscope are abnormal and point to a medical condition that requires treatment.

With a stethoscope, a doctor can listen to your heartbeat and identify problems with your heart muscle, valves or electrical system. Abnormal lung sounds can indicate a respiratory illness like asthma or pneumonia, or a foreign object lodged in the airway; the condition of the trachea, bronchi and pleura can also be assessed. With a stethoscope, doctors can listen to determine if fluids have built up around the heart or in pleural spaces within the chest. By listening to a patient’s abdomen with the aid of a stethoscope, a doctor can assess abnormal sounds from the bowel that could indicate appendicitis or other digestive system issues.

The stethoscope is an indispensable medical device that offers a simple, non-invasive way of assessing a person's health and informing diagnostic and therapeutic decisions.