That quivering breath

So, dear fellow stethophiles,

I'm addressing all of you, but mostly the examiners.

Have you noticed how, some times, in rare, wonderful, memorable moments, your patient's breath quivers when you tell them to take a deep breath? This happens when they exhale. They're a bit (or a lot) nervous, so their breath doesn't come out smoothly, but rather in a shaky, quivering manner.

Here's an example, a little further than 2:28. Notice how she breathes out.

https://youtu.be/y_-iK9vb3qs?t=147

Isn't this the sexiest thing? Can anyone relate, or am I alone in this world getting turned on from this quivering exhale?

Have a good evening.

MWS

You are not alone. I too get turned on from that.

Pounding heart, blushing face, quivering breath, shaky voice - these all are little giveaways that show that the patient is a bit (or a lot) nervous, and thus exposing her vulnerability. To me, vulnerability and heart exam just go hand in hand and are inseparable. There is nothing more sexy (at least in my eyes) than a vulnerable female patient. In this regard, those giveaways are not only extremely sexy, I think they are actually the core, the heart (pun intended) of the heart examination.

@ManWithStethoscope, if you care to elaborate on this topic, I would be more than happy to hear it.

I totally get this, especially from the examinee's point of view. There is nothing like that tingling, quivering feeling in the pit of your stomach as you exhale on command.

Listening to this young woman's breathing and heartbeat brings back great memories of a young woman I stethed a couple of times. She was 22 the first time I examined her, very petite, about 4' 10" and 95 pounds, small firm 32 A breasts. She was nervous--it was her first time to be stethed bare chested since she was a child before she developed. She said that I was the first man to see her breasts. The woman in the video sounds just like Amy, same quivering breath sounds (a phenomenon I heard for the first time when I listened to Amy's chest), same perfect heart sounds, nice solid s1 and snappy s2, a bit fast but steady as a metronome. For me this video has the same effect as Viagra.

This happened to me at my real doctor once! She listened to my heart in all places and that was really unexpected! My heart started pounding and racing and so my exhales sounded like you describe it here. 😃

Yes this has happened loads of times. It's always quiet in the office when I have my chest sounded by the doctor, the only sound is my breath as I exhale and because of a mixture of excitement and nerves I can hear my breathing quiver like you describe.

That’s vibrato mam!

This happens to me everytime I'm stethed at the doctors, its so embarrassing.

I'm fine if its a play exam but I can't seem to control it, whenever the doctor examines me

This always happens to me. I’ve always wondered if my doctor(s) have ever noticed this. :x Can’t seem to remember how to breathe properly when anyone is listening...hahahaha.

Happens to me as both the examiner and patient. Don't know why. Focusing on breathing doesn't really help either.

Yes, I’ve noticed this a lot too. I think it’s just a natural reaction to the otherwise cold steth that you’re applying to the “patients” skin. For me it’s fantastic to see and it puts me in the mood for further exploration. 😉