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Medical Forum / General / Cardiology / May 2005What are "Distant Heart Sounds"?
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?  SignatureJames It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article <Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>: >What are "distant heart sounds" when noticed during a physical for cancer? >My hematologist did not mention it to me when he did a physical but it shows >up in his written report. >I can't get hold of my doctor to explain this to me. Something new to worry >about? I found many Google hits on "distant heart sounds" relating to diagnosis of certain conditions, but never found an exact definition. If nobody offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a Google search. SignatureDon Kirkman Thanks, Don Actually, I posted here because I could not find a definition on Google or anywhere else. There seems to be such a thing, but nobody bothers to define it. SignatureJames > It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article > <Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a > Google search. Try these definitions: http://www.hypertension-consult.com/Secure/textbookarticles/Textbook/59_pericard ial.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 > Thanks, Don > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a > > Google search. > It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article > <Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > offers a clear definition you may get some idea of the meaning from a > Google search. Ask a cardio dr. It *could* mean HF, but could also mean a lot of other diseases, conditions or reactions. > > It seems to me I heard somewhere that James E. wrote in article > > <Vnkme.9839$h86.8035@tornado.socal.rr.com>: [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > >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 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Ask a cardio dr. It *could* mean HF, but could also mean a lot of other > diseases, conditions or reactions. Thank you. Have a great weekend. SignatureJames >> "Don Kirkman" <donkirk@covad.net> wrote in message > news:so3k919f79mmc0f72br7kfm905lbniau79@4ax.com... [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] >> Ask a cardio dr. It *could* mean HF, but could also mean a lot of other >> diseases, conditions or reactions. "James E." <wer25@example.com> wrote in part: >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 > 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. SignatureDavid Rind drind@caregroup.harvard.edu > 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? 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. In Christ's love and service, Andrew -- Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD Board-Certified Cardiologist ** Suggested Reading: (1) http://makeashorterlink.com/?G1D5217EA (2) http://makeashorterlink.com/?W13A4250B (3) http://makeashorterlink.com/?X1C62661A (4) http://makeashorterlink.com/?U1E13130A (5) http://makeashorterlink.com/?K6F72510A (6) http://makeashorterlink.com/?I24E5151A (7) http://makeashorterlink.com/?I22222129 > 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. 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. SignatureDavid Rind drind@caregroup.harvard.edu Thank you all very much for your input. I greatly appreciate your concern. SignatureJames > 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 [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > worry > about? |
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