Stethoscopes are medical devices that are used to listen to people’s heartbeats and breathing.
Today’s stethoscopes run the gamut from analog to high-tech digital wonders, but they all have the same essential purpose.
Below, our health experts have compiled their list of the 6 most important benefits of stethoscopes.
6 Benefits Of Stethoscopes
The stethoscope is not just for doctors anymore. Having one in your home will also pay potentially significant benefits.
1: Stethoscopes are vital front-line tools for health professionals.
Whether you’re a cardiac surgeon, an EMT or a navy Corpsman (1) the stethoscope is a vital front-line piece of medical equipment. It enables you to quickly and accurately assess a person’s condition so you can decide on an appropriate course of action. Without them it’s fair to say that medical science would take a fairly significant step backward. At least in the realm of useful non-clinical care.
2: Stethoscopes are a common sense idea for the home.
Most people are not doctors yet nearly everyone has a thermometer in their home. And for good reason. A thermometer can provide basic but vital information about the state of your health or the health of a loved one. That’s the same reason you should also consider having a stethoscope in the home. This is especially true if someone in the house has a history of cardiovascular problems. If there is an emergency the stethoscope can provide vital information which can be relayed to emergency services so that EMTs arrive on the scene prepared.
3: Stethoscopes are a practical way to monitor health.
Whether you’re a person with a history of heart ailments or a parent who wants to be able to keep closer tabs on your childrens’ health a stethoscope is a valuable diagnostic tool. Due to the simplicity of its construction, it should last for many years. Its modest price makes it a worthwhile investment that could wind up paying handsome dividends in the long run. As they say, if something only saves your life once it was worth the money.
4: Stethoscopes are vitally important but modestly priced.
If you are intent on pursuing a medical career you must certainly be aware of the cost involved (2). When it comes time to set up your own practice many of the pieces of equipment necessary will cost tens of thousands of dollars. A stethoscope, on the other hand, will play an important role both in your education and practice. While at the same time being one of the least expensive investments you’ll ever make.
5: Stethoscopes can help those with heart problems monitor their condition.
Having a stethoscope around if you’ve had heart issues in the past, or if you have a family history of heart issues, is a no-brainer. A stethoscope can alert you to potential problems or confirm that something usual is afoot. The important thing is learning how to accurately interpret what you hear. And there are myriad courses available that can teach you that.
6: Stethoscopes can be used to determine the health of pregnant women.
There are all manner of high-tech electronic devices used today to monitor the progression and state of a pregnancy. And while those are all very well and good sometimes all that’s needed is a stethoscope. The stethoscope can provide information on the mother’s health (her heart rate and breathing). You can also hear the baby’s heartbeat using a stethoscope (3) beginning several months into the pregnancy. And you don’t need a doctor to to it. You can do it at home whenever you want.
Conclusion
The stethoscope was long considered the exclusive domain of the doctor. But not anymore. Today, anyone can purchase a state-of-the-art stethoscope to use at home. And many health professionals advise families to do just that. They are an affordable, reliable way to monitor heart health in those with heart conditions. They can also be used to monitor recovery from surgery and the health of both mother and baby during pregnancy.