Chapter 16 - Vital Signs

Four Vital Signs of Body Function:

Temperature, Pulse, Respirations, Blood pressure

Examples of when vitals measured?

During a physical, before and after surgery.

Definition of Temperature

• the amount of heat in the body, the balance between heat lost and heat produced.

Homeostasis

• the ideal health state in the human body (constant state of fluid balance) - rates of chemical reactions in the body are regulated by body temperature

What affects Body Temperature?

Time of day, age, weather, exercise, emotions, stress, illness, menstrual cycle, pregnancy

What is the most accurate temperature?

Rectal

If a patient drank something cold or hot,

wait 15 minutes before taking temperature.

Febrile/pyrexia

Fever is present.

Afebril

No fever is present.

Pulse

The pressure of the blood pushing against the wall of an artery as the heart beats and rest it is described as strong or weak.

Average Adult Pulse Rate

60-100

Rhythm

• Described as regular or irregular

• Reg is the same between each beat or pulse

Carotid -

pulse site at the neck

Tachycardia

Pulse rate over 100 beats per minute

Bradycardia

pulse rate under 60 beats per minute

Abnormal respiration signs

• Wheezing (high-pitched whistling)

• Changes in vital signs

• Changes in color, odor, and consistency of sputum

What is the normal respiration rate for Adults?

12-20

Dyspnea

Difficult, labored, or painful breathing

Cheyne-Stokes Respiration

Respirations have periods of dyspnea and apnea

Wheezing:

• difficult breathing with high-pitched whistling or sighing sound during expiration. Caused by the narrowing of bronchi or mucus accumulation.  

What is qualified as Prehypertension?

Diastolic between 80-89

What are heart sounds caused by?

The closing of valves.

What increases Blood Pressure?

Exercise, excitement, anxiety, stimulant drugs