Heart disease diagnosis better through iPod

Steve Jobs‘ revolutionary little MP3 player not only can play and store digital music, it can even help diagnose heart problems and in the process, save lives.

In a study made by Temple University School of Medicine and Hospital, doctors were asked to practice listening to heartbeats in order to be able to diagnose heart ailments more accurately. 149 general internists were also made to listen 400 times to five common heart murmurs during a 90-minute session with iPods.

After the session, the average score improved to 80 percent (previously, the average rate of correct heart sound identification made by the physicians is 40 percent). The results were presented by lead researcher Dr. Michael Barrett at the American College of Cardiology‘s annual meeting.

It’s very important for doctors to be proficient with the stethoscope – the sound of our heartbeats do say a lot about ourselves. A doctor who is able to recognize ailments accurately just by listening to our heartbeat is considered better than his peers who couldn’t, but being able to diagnose correctly through the stethoscope takes a lot of practice. Here’s where the Apple iPods come in.

Doctors are now encouraged to practice by listening to heartbeats via their iPods during their spare time. Don’t laugh – the idea might sound a bit silly now but their skill might actually save your life some day.

Via Live Science

Steve Jobs‘ revolutionary little MP3 player not only can play and store digital music, it can even help diagnose heart problems and in the process, save lives.

In a study made by Temple University School of Medicine and Hospital, doctors were asked to practice listening to heartbeats in order to be able to diagnose heart ailments more accurately. 149 general internists were also made to listen 400 times to five common heart murmurs during a 90-minute session with iPods.

After the session, the average score improved to 80 percent (previously, the average rate of correct heart sound identification made by the physicians is 40 percent). The results were presented by lead researcher Dr. Michael Barrett at the American College of Cardiology‘s annual meeting.

It’s very important for doctors to be proficient with the stethoscope – the sound of our heartbeats do say a lot about ourselves. A doctor who is able to recognize ailments accurately just by listening to our heartbeat is considered better than his peers who couldn’t, but being able to diagnose correctly through the stethoscope takes a lot of practice. Here’s where the Apple iPods come in.

Doctors are now encouraged to practice by listening to heartbeats via their iPods during their spare time. Don’t laugh – the idea might sound a bit silly now but their skill might actually save your life some day.

Via Live Science