Transitioning from invasive to preventive cardiology with Littmann Stethoscopes

Heart disease is the number one killer worldwide according to the World Health Organization. But it doesn’t have to be. About 90% of heart disease is preventable through diet, exercise, and by not smoking.

As a cardiologist, I have spent over 25 years treating patients with heart disease. Today, I help prevent it. Since opening a preventive cardiology practice, Heart Health Prevention & Wellness, in Monument, Colorado, I have worked with hundreds of patients to reduce their heart disease risk through early detection and lifestyle modifications.

Unfortunately, the type of cardiology I practice isn’t covered by insurance. And there is no standard screening test for heart disease that guidelines recommend beyond the standard lipid panel. The tests are available, but insurance doesn’t cover them. Patients have to step outside the system and advocate for their own health.

These patients tend to have at least one risk factor for heart disease: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, family history, and sleep apnea, among others. When I assess patients for these and other conditions, I rely on a Littmann® Stethoscope—a gift I received from my parents after graduating medical school at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1992.

My Littmann stethoscope has helped me diagnose and monitor a wide range of conditions, including aortic stenosis, heart failure, and pneumonia.

An enduring gift

I don’t know how my mother thought to give me a stethoscope—engraved with my initials and graduation date. This was before the internet, so it’s not like she could search Google for the best gift.

But she chose well. That stethoscope turned out to be an essential tool, and I’ve used it ever since.

Over the years, it has lost an ear tip (now replaced ) and the engraving is almost worn through. My mother passed away in 2005, making the device even more meaningful. I think of her every time I use it.

I’ve used my Littmann stethoscope while practicing medicine in Arkansas, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Colorado. Through inpatient and outpatient services, from interventional medicine to preventive care, my Littmann stethoscope has remained a constant. And its quality has stood the test of time. I’ve tried a digital stethoscope, but I still prefer my Cardiology-grade model.

Strengthening the physician-patient connection

I am licensed to practice telemedicine in seven states. Despite the convenience of virtual visits, many of my patients prefer to see me in person. They want a hands-on physician experience, and my stethoscope is a big part of that. There’s something about the experience of a doctor placing the stethoscope on your chest that fosters a connection.