Medical Q&A #7 - The Respiratory System

Common questions.

What does my doctor actually hear when she puts her stethoscope against my chest?

A stethoscope amplifies the sound of the air you breathe as it passes in and out of th lungs. By 'tuning in' (moving the stethoscope from place to place from your chest and back as she listens), your doctor can get an idea of what's going on in your bronchi, in your alveoli or air sacs, and in the lower portions of your chest.

Unusual or abnormal sounds may indicate disease. A crackling sound, for instance, may be an indication of pneumonia; high- or low-pitched wheezes or rumbling sounds may signal the presence of an asthmatic condition in the lungs.