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Walter E.
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 27
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 Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 12:32 pm Post subject:
What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to worry
about?
--
James |
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Don Kirkman
medicine forum Guru
Joined: 28 Apr 2005
Posts: 726
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 6:29 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article
<Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>:
| Quote: | What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to worry
about?
|
I found many Google hits on "distant heart sounds" relating to diagnosis
of certain conditions, but never found an exact definition. If nobody
offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a
Google search.
--
Don Kirkman |
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Walter E.
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 6:49 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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Thanks, Don
Actually, I posted here because I could not find a definition on Google or
anywhere else. There seems to be such a thing, but nobody bothers to define
it.
--
James
"Don Kirkman" <donkirk@covad.net> wrote in message
news:so3k919f79mmc0f72br7kfm905lbniau79@4ax.com...
| Quote: | It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article
Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>:
What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it
shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to
worry
about?
I found many Google hits on "distant heart sounds" relating to diagnosis
of certain conditions, but never found an exact definition. If nobody
offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a
Google search.
--
Don Kirkman |
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menu boy
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 24 Mar 2005
Posts: 43
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 7:03 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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"Don Kirkman" <donkirk@covad.net> wrote in message news:so3k919f79mmc0f72br7kfm905lbniau79@4ax.com...
| Quote: | It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article
Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>:
What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to worry
about?
I found many Google hits on "distant heart sounds" relating to diagnosis
of certain conditions, but never found an exact definition. If nobody
offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a
Google search.
|
Ask a cardio dr. It *could* mean HF, but could also mean a lot of other
diseases, conditions or reactions. |
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Don Baker
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 05 May 2005
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Sun May 29, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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Try these definitions:
http://www.hypertension-consult.com/Secure/textbookarticles/Textbook/59_pericardial.htm
(defined as overly subjective)
http://www.geronurseonline.org/index.cfm?section_id=31&geriatric_topic_id=11&sub_section_id=76&tab=1
(from a nursing text)
The phrase is very subject "like describing red". You will need to know
what your doctor meant.
Don
"James E." <wer25@example.com> wrote in message
news:7Vpme.47053$887.16675@tornado.socal.rr.com...
| Quote: | Thanks, Don
Actually, I posted here because I could not find a definition on Google or
anywhere else. There seems to be such a thing, but nobody bothers to
define
it.
--
James
"Don Kirkman" <donkirk@covad.net> wrote in message
news:so3k919f79mmc0f72br7kfm905lbniau79@4ax.com...
It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article
Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>:
What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for
cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it
shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to
worry
about?
I found many Google hits on "distant heart sounds" relating to diagnosis
of certain conditions, but never found an exact definition. If nobody
offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a
Google search.
--
Don Kirkman
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hawki63
medicine forum addict
Joined: 24 May 2005
Posts: 57
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 2:48 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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"menu boy" <ilmobixSPAMIT@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:J6qme.8262$zb.1127@trndny01...
| Quote: |
"Don Kirkman" <donkirk@covad.net> wrote in message
news:so3k919f79mmc0f72br7kfm905lbniau79@4ax.com...
It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article
Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>:
What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for
cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it
shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to
worry
about?
|
in my experience and training.."distant heart sounds" merely means the
sounds seem "far away from one's sthescope"....ie...can be in an overweight
person..and one with a "barrel type chest" like seen in COPD...or in
someone with a chest wall anonmaly (sp?)....
in most folks the heart is very close to the chest wall,,,and the sounds are
thus distinct and easy to hear...
distance implies just that...the heart is farther away from the rib cage and
chest wall,,,thus the sounds sound muffled and less distinct...
if that is the only unusual finding..probably either just you..or the doc is
not too adept at listening for heart sounds at the appropriate
places!!(happens!!)
hope that helps...personally I wouldn't assume it is anything bad
good luck
| Quote: | I found many Google hits on "distant heart sounds" relating to diagnosis
of certain conditions, but never found an exact definition. If nobody
offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a
Google search.
Ask a cardio dr. It *could* mean HF, but could also mean a lot of other
diseases, conditions or reactions.
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Walter E.
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 3:23 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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Thank you. Have a great weekend.
--
James
"hawki63" <hawki63@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:atHme.22940$J12.6861@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com...
| Quote: |
"menu boy" <ilmobixSPAMIT@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:J6qme.8262$zb.1127@trndny01...
"Don Kirkman" <donkirk@covad.net> wrote in message
news:so3k919f79mmc0f72br7kfm905lbniau79@4ax.com...
It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article
Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>:
What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for
cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it
shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to
worry
about?
in my experience and training.."distant heart sounds" merely means the
sounds seem "far away from one's sthescope"....ie...can be in an
overweight
person..and one with a "barrel type chest" like seen in COPD...or in
someone with a chest wall anonmaly (sp?)....
in most folks the heart is very close to the chest wall,,,and the sounds
are
thus distinct and easy to hear...
distance implies just that...the heart is farther away from the rib cage
and
chest wall,,,thus the sounds sound muffled and less distinct...
if that is the only unusual finding..probably either just you..or the doc
is
not too adept at listening for heart sounds at the appropriate
places!!(happens!!)
hope that helps...personally I wouldn't assume it is anything bad
good luck
I found many Google hits on "distant heart sounds" relating to
diagnosis
of certain conditions, but never found an exact definition. If nobody
offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a
Google search.
Ask a cardio dr. It *could* mean HF, but could also mean a lot of other
diseases, conditions or reactions.
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Jim Chinnis
medicine forum Guru
Joined: 30 Apr 2005
Posts: 1030
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 4:11 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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"James E." <wer25@example.com> wrote in part:
| Quote: | What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to worry
about?
|
Did he really write, "distant?" Or was it "distal?" Most docs
would write distal, probably to indicate sounds beyond the
heart--maybe from the pulmonary arteries. (I am not a physician.)
If he wrote "distant," he probably meant exactly what hawki said.
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA |
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David Rind
medicine forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 205
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| Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 5:44 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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James E. wrote:
| Quote: | What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it shows
up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to worry
about?
|
"Distant heart sounds" is doctorspeak for "I couldn't hear the heart
sounds very well and I think that was because the heart is far away from
my stethoscope." Typically the reason for this is obvious -- either the
patient is overweight or has an expanded chest because of lung disease
such that either fat or air has created distance between the heart and
the surface of the chest. In any case, it is not a comment that implies
any sort of heart problem.
--
David Rind
drind@caregroup.harvard.edu |
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Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
medicine forum Guru
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 8540
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David Rind
medicine forum Guru Wannabe
Joined: 02 May 2005
Posts: 205
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 9:24 am Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote:
| Quote: | If this is a **new** finding in someone with a history of cancer, there
would be a concern that there might be the **new** development of
increased fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion). Would suggest
you ask for a referral to consult with a cardiologist about this if
indeed it is a **new** finding.
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If the doctor had actually been worried about that, he or she would have
written "muffled heart sounds" (yet more doctorspeak for "I didn't hear
the heart very well and I'm worried it was because of a pericardial
effusion"). Suggesting that a comment like "distant heart sounds" (that
is written by doctors all the time without any negative implication) is
an indication for a referral to a cardiologist is just worrying the OP
for no reason.
--
David Rind
drind@caregroup.harvard.edu |
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Walter E.
medicine forum beginner
Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Tue May 31, 2005 5:29 pm Post subject:
Re: What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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Thank you all very much for your input. I greatly appreciate your concern.
--
James
"James E." <wer25@example.com> wrote in message
news:Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com...
| Quote: | What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer?
My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it
shows up in his written report.
I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to
worry
about?
--
James
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