I think the majority of people are familiar with stethoscopes, as anyone who has ever been to a doctor can likely recall the cold metal against his or her skin. Doctors are most definitely the most common users of stethoscopes, as these instruments allow them to listen to their patients' heart beats. Veterinarians also use them to listen to the heart beats of their animal friends.

While those in the medical field have the greatest need for stethoscopes, the general public may also be interested in buying them for home use. This can be especially true of parents with young children in the house, who may want to check on their child's health every now and then. For instance, if a child is sick with a bad chest cold, you can place the stethoscope against the child's chest and ask him or her to breathe in and out.

When the child breathes or coughs, you can hear if there is anything in the lungs, such as excessive mucous. If you believe there is, you might want to call the doctor immediately for a chest x-ray. It often happens that people walk around suffering from pneumonia without knowing it, which can be dangerous if not caught and treated properly.

Versatile Stethoscopes

As you can see, stethoscopes are used by more people than doctors. You can order a stethoscope online through sites that specialize in medical products, such as blood pressure kits, wheelchairs, and incontinence products. Look for stethoscopes that are lightweight, and have a non-chill ring chest-piece and comfortable ear tips.