Heart Sound Quality in Smartphone Recordings

A recent study published in the European Heart Journal - Digital Health found that smartphones can be used to record heart sounds with good quality. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford, involved over 1,100 people who used a smartphone app to record their own heart sounds.

The researchers found that three out of four recordings were of good quality, meaning that they could be processed further to obtain medically relevant data. The results indicate that heart sound quality is not influenced by phone version or by the user's biological sex, but users aged over 60 seemed to have lower-quality recordings.

This study paves the way for a future where individuals, particularly those with heart problems, can easily record their own heart sounds at home, thus improving the diagnostic process.

How Heart Sounds Are Made

Everyone is familiar with the "lub-dub… lub-dub" sounds the heart makes. The reason that the heart makes these sounds is related to its function of circulating blood throughout the body. The heart muscle pumps blood by continuously contracting and relaxing. During contraction of the heart, we hear the "lub" sound, known as the first heart sound, S1, and during relaxation of the heart, we hear the "dub" sound —the second heart sound, S2.

The traditional tool used by doctors to listen to heart sounds is the stethoscope. However, smartphones with inbuilt high-quality microphones can also be used to record heart sounds.

Benefits of Recording Heart Sounds at Home

There are several benefits to recording heart sounds at home. First, it can help patients to monitor their own heart health and to identify any changes in their heart sounds that may be a sign of a problem. Second, it can help patients to save time and money by avoiding unnecessary trips to the doctor's office. Third, it can help patients to feel more in control of their own health.

How to Record Heart Sounds at Home

There are several apps available that can be used to record heart sounds at home. These apps typically include instructions on how to position the smartphone on the chest and how to record the heart sounds. Once the heart sounds have been recorded, they can be sent to a doctor or other healthcare professional for analysis.

Conclusion

The ability to record heart sounds at home using a smartphone is a promising new technology that has the potential to improve the diagnosis and management of heart disease.