Doctors reveal how a stethoscope actually works

Stethoscopes still play an important role in diagnosing heart, lung and vascular conditions. But how exactly do they work? Dr. Bhavani Balaravi of Raleigh Cardiology explained:

A stethoscope enhances body sounds and transmits those sounds to our ears. A typical model has a flat, round chest piece covered by a thin, tightly stretched skin of plastic called a diaphragm. The diaphragm vibrates when sound occurs. These high-frequency sounds travel up the hollow plastic tubing into hollow metal earpieces and into the doctor’s ears.

What sounds does the doctor hear when using a stethoscope? A healthy adults heart makes tow sounds called a “lub” and a “dub”. The lub sound is created by near simultaneous closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves located between the atria and ventricle of the heart. When the blood leaves the heart via the aorta and pulmonary arteries, the near simultaneous closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves create the dub sound.

When the valves do not close completely, a raspy or blowing noise can occur. This is a heart murmur, an extra sound produced as a result of turbulent blood flow during heart beats, which can mean a valve disorder is present.

Stethoscopes can be used for a number of different health problems, including determining blood pressure. Overall they are an incredibly important tool that doctors have been using for decades.

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One size doesn't fit all: How to find the perfect doctor for you

While it may not seem that important, a doctor-patient relationship is actually one of the most intimate and important relationships there are. Doctors are among the few professionals we interact with in an open, exposed and completely vulnerable way, plus they also have a tremendous influence on your health and well-being.

That is why finding the perfect doctor should be your number one priority. If you are in the market for a new doctor, use these steps.

Step One: Gather names of potential doctors
Nothing can compare to the real life opinions and insight of people you trust, so start by getting doctor recommendations from friends and family. Once you’ve gotten a few names, take to the internet.

There are numerous sites to help find and grade physicians. The best option is to simply search for “primary care physician” or “general practitioner” on Google. A great consumer-friendly site which allows you to search by city and specialty is recomed.co.za.

Step Two: Vet each potential doctor
Now that you have a list of doctors who might fit your criteria, it is time to do some deeper sleuthing. Here are six primary considerations you should have when you are researching a new doctor.

1. Cost (My bill is how much???)

2. Doctor expertise (Do I need a specialist?)

3. Board certification (Prove it!)

4. Location and availability (Are you there for me?)

5. Doctor style (Dr. Right?)

6. Office amenities and overall experience (All the little things)

The Takeaway
Finding the perfect doctor for yourself does take some time and homework, but it is worth the investment. By asking for recommendations, using the internet and call around, you can narrow down the options and find Dr. Right.

How did you find your doctor? 

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4 unbelievably bizarre medical practices from the past

From the ancient Greeks to the time of Abraham Lincoln, medical practices from the past probably did more harm than good. Real physicians practicing real medicine, as well as scientists and dreamers often had twisted thinking and performed gut-wrenching procedures; here are some crazy historical medical practices you were never taught about in school:

Benjamin Rush – Benjamin Rush was America’s best known and most trusted doctor. However, in his practice Dr. Rush doused his patients with cold water in the winter, gave them “artificial diarrhea” and even twirled patients from ropes suspended from the ceiling. He also invented the “tranquilizer chair”, which was later used all over the world. This invention restrained a patient’s hands and feet and covered their head with a wooden box. He believed that pain and suffering was able to cure illnesses and disease. So, he starved, beat and poured acid on his patients.

John Hunter – England’s greatest surgeon never have up his career as a grave robber, and he demanded he have 7’8” giant, Charles O’Brien’s bones when he died. Unfortunately Charles refused and made plans to be buried at sea in a lead basket. When Charles finally dropped dead, Hunter’s henchmen bribed the undertaker, grabbed the body and threw It into a big pot. Today, Charles O’Brien’s bones are displayed proudly at the Hunterian Museum.

King Charles II – When King Charles woke up feeling sick on 2 February 1685, a number of bizarre and downright crazy medical practices were performed. His physician immediately withdrew sixteen ounces of blood and Charles was then made to swallow a toxic metal and given a series of enemas. To drive the bad humours downward his head was shaven and blistering agents were applied to his scalp. For days Charles was tormented by physicians until finally he lapsed into a coma and died on February 6, 1685.

Dr. Walter Freeman – In the 1950’s Dr. Walter Freeman became the world’s best known brain surgeon. Freeman was not trained in surgery and didn’t believe in wearing gloves and working in a germ-free environment. He practiced at home with an ice pick and a grapefruit and soon unveiled the trans-orbital lobotomy. Three of Freeman’s patients died, although he still did lobotomies at nearby hospitals and send his patients postcards.

These real medical practices through the ages are just a brief history of what your teacher never taught you at school!

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What is a Nebulizer?

Long ago, Ancient Egyptians inhaled fumes of herbs heated on bricks. In the 19^th century cigarettes were used. And finally after about a hundred years of experimenting, the first mass produced nebulizer was invented in 1969. Since then, the nebulizer has really been a lifesaver for many asthmatics.

The concept of the nebulizer is quite simple – inhaled asthma medicines go directly to the lungs and may instantly relieve asthma symptoms.

Ancient techniques did this, but they were slow and inefficient. The modern nebulizer solved all these problems. The device is simply a cup with a mouthpiece on the top (or mask) and oxygen tubing on the bottom. The tubing is connected to an air compressor. When turned on, the air compressor provides a flow of air through a tiny hole in the cup so that liquid inside the cup is drawn into the flow, causing a fine, white mist.

In this way, the nebulizer turns liquid into aerosols that are the perfect size for deposition into the lungs once inhaled. This process is called atomization, and this is why nebulizers used to be called atomizers.

Other names for nebulizers are nebs, updraft therapy, nebulizer treatment or breathing treatment. Most air compressors are compact and connect to a power source, while newer ones are quite convenient and even portable as they can be plugged into an outlet in your car.

For most asthmatics a simple inhaler is all they need. Most asthma experts recommend every asthmatic carry an inhaler for quick relief of asthma symptoms.

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How to use a finger pulse oximeter

A pulse oximeter is a medical device that measures heart rate and the oxygen level in the blood, expressed as the percent of oxygen saturation. Pulse oximeters operate by shining light through the skin to the blood vessels below. These devices are commonly used in many health care settings and are available over the counter. If you have high oxygen saturation (close to 100%) it indicates that the red blood cells are fully loaded with oxygen from the lungs.

Follow the steps to learn how to use a finger pulse oximeter:

Step 1
Turn on the pulse oximeter by firmly pressing the power button. The screen should light up almost instantly.

Step 2
Place the sensor, the part that opens and closes like a clothespin, on any finger, with the sensor screen above your fingernail. If the sensor doesn’t have a screen, run the cable along the back of your finger or hand. Don’t use the thumb because these readings are less reliable than finger readings.

Step 3
Wait until the pulse oximeter acquires a signal. This may take 10 seconds or more, depending on the device and the conditions. Excessive movement can decrease the accuracy of the result, so make sure to keep still.

Step 4
Look at the display to see the heart rate, usually indicated with a heart or pulsing light. The percent of oxygen saturation is typically indicated by the symbol “Sp02.” Many devices also have a pulse tone that beeps in time with the heart rate.

Step 5
Leave the sensor on for continuous monitoring. The sensor can become uncomfortable or cause pressure sores if you leave it on your finger for too long. Check and move the sensor at least every two to four hours. If only a single measurement is required, remove the sensor and press the power button to turn off the device.

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Look great and stay safe in a disposable lab gown

If you work in a hospital or healthcare facility, it is always a good idea to keep a supply of disposable lab gowns on hand, whether you’re working in the patient care areas or the lab. These traditional looking lab gowns will outlast other types of cotton or poly cotton blend coats, plus they offer a wide range of additional safety features.

One of the biggest issues with any type of lab coat, that’s worn in the lab or while working with patients, is that the gown can become contaminated. When body fluids, medications, chemicals or liquid is spilled on the gown, the fabric will absorb it. These absorbed liquids will then travel around with you when you are interacting with patients and others, possibly providing opportunity for contamination. Since it really isn’t practical to be changing your coat all the time, using a disposable lab gown is really the best possible option.

Disposable lab gowns are just as practically designed as the more traditional cotton and poly cotton coats. They feature button closure down the front, as well as a walking slit in the back, which allows for easy movement even if you want to leave the coat closed while you’re walking / moving around. 

In addition most disposable lab gowns also offer Velcro cuffs and a fold up collar shield to more effectively restrict the chance of any contamination touching your skin or clothing while the gown is closed.

Supply doctor has a wide range of disposables to choose from, including lightweight, breathable disposable lab gowns. This is an important aspect in a busy hospital or healthcare setting where you may be walking through a variety of temperatures as you travel from area to area.

How to improve doctors’ waiting rooms

Waiting in a doctor’s office is one of life’s small annoyances, and the problem isn’t going away anytime soon. However, design can make the endless waiting a lot more tolerable.

There are six ways of dramatically improving waiting rooms…

Comfortable seating: Waiting when you’re sick is bad enough, and waiting in an uncomfortable chair is even worse. Movable armrests and seating pads with various amounts of cushion let people create their own comfortable little space. Planters can keep the air feeling fresh and displays at the end of each bench can tell patients how long they’ll be waiting.

Manageable queues: Queue management displays in waiting rooms make people feel physically tied to one spot. A better idea would be to feature wait-time displays prominently in multiple places and not just over the central counter.

Clear medical records: Digital records are going more and more digital as the years go by. Another low-tech alternative can be for patients to store their medications and appointment dates in paper wallets that can be thrown in a purse or back pocket and carted easily to the doctor’s office.

Healthy food: It’s always shocking and a bit depressing to see vending machines full of chips, chocolates and fizzy drinks in a medical clinic. Encourage healthy living by finding a vending machine that is stocked with nutritious snacks, or get a water dispenser.

Welcoming signage: Doctors’ waiting rooms can sometimes feel terribly impersonal. It is recommended that welcome boards be introduced so the doctors on duty can post information about healthy activities, etc.

Communal space: Communal tables can help reduce anxiety in a waiting room. Some people like their privacy when they’re sick, but then again if you are with your family a large table would make sense.

Use these tips to better design your waiting room and reduce patients anxiety while thy wait.

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