What is a Korotkoff Sound?
Have you ever watched a television show or a movie and noticed the sound that is made when a doctor takes someone’s blood pressure? A “bump” sound is what usually reverberates from the screen, each time a pump of blood shoots through an artery. These sounds actually have a name, and they are known as Korotkoff sounds. These blood pressure sounds are named after the Russian physician, Dr. Nikolai Korotkoff, who described these sounds in 1905, when he was working at the Imperial Medical Facility in St. Petersburg, Russia. Korotkoff sounds are not usually heard in real life without medical equipment, but the movies and television use this sound to give the scene an added effect.
The Korotkoff sound is heard when the valves in the heart’s ventricles close. It works much like a door does. When you open a door, no sound is heard, but when you close that door, your heart it closing or slamming shut. It is somewhat difficult to hear these sounds because as the heart beats, the pulses created by the closing ventricles travels smoothly through the vessels, which causes the sound to disperse. That is why the Korotkoff sounds cannot be heard when a stethoscope is placed against an artery. When a stethoscope is placed against the chest, you can hear the heart beating, but these sounds are not the same as the Korotkoff sounds.
Korotkoff sounds can give doctors and other health care providers an idea of your overall circulatory breath, especially associated with your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, it is best to change your eating and exercising habits in order to lower it. This will keep your body healthy and re-regulate the Korotkoff sounds in your body.
How can you keep your blood pressure low? Eat a diet that is low in fat to prevent your blood vessels from clogging. A healthy diet is very important for many aspects of health, and blood pressure is no different. Also, it is important to take medication if your doctor recommends it. This can reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. Certain exercises can be helpful as well. Talk to your doctor about these and other ways to lower your blood pressure. It could save your life. The fast food cheeseburger you enjoy today could be tomorrow’s heart attack, so keep your health in check by regulating your blood pressure so that it is within a normal range.
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