Stethoscope?

What if someone's heart sped up when touched by a stethoscope and the doctor thought it was their real heart rate? Some people don't like stethoscopes and such you know... I get kind of jumpy around them, but haven't had this experience recently.

I mean experience as in haven't been like this during the times around really being by one...

Doctor's listen for longer than a few seconds, and they know what they are looking for. That's why they place the stethoscope on several different places.

no different than running a marathon...what's the question?

Medical professionals take into account the "white coat syndrome"; people's blood pressure and heart rates can go up just because they are in a medical situation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_coat_...

With the stethoscope the doctor can hear much more than just the rate of your heart beat and they also check the rate of your heart by checking your pulse, your respirations and your blood pressure. Mainly with the stethoscope they are listening other abnormalities.

They don't really use it that much to measure your heart rates, Besides they can do it by other methods like seeing your pulse using your wrists and neck. However, they do use stethoscopes to see if your heart is beating correctly, like if there is irregular beating. It can also hear anything inside your body like when they tell you to take a deep breath , it is so they can hear if there are any blocked airways. Hope this helps =]

Doctors are very aware that this kind of thing can happen. Usually, if the heart rate is very fast they will check again later and if you tell them the stethoscope makes your heart race they will understand. They use fingers for the heart rate. The stethoscope will tell them if the heart is beating normally even if it is fast.

Naw. the doctor should know better.

That's why he/she keeps the 'scope on for a minute or two. So your heart can slow down assuming it sped up because u got scared or the device felt cold

a stethoscope is used for more then listening to your heartbeat=you were probably afraid of what the Dr was going to do=if Dr asked you to cough while pressing it on your back hes checking for fluid build-up=checking on the chest is the heart rate as well as breathing too=there is nothing to be afraid of

It's alright, usually the health care worker can tell if someone is nervous. Otherwise, like the person before said, the HCW takes into account someone being nervous just because they are in a uneasy situation. Your heart rate won't dangerously go up to the point where they will take the wrong readings and misdiagnose you with a heart condition though.