vital signs across the lifespan !!

temperature

maintained through feedback mechanism regulated in the hypothalamus

normal oral temperature

35.8ºC – 37.3ºC

influencing factors of temperature

menstruation cycle, exercise, age

temp in infants/young children

temp runs warmer due to immature thermoregulation

temp in older adults

lower baseline temp due to changes in body’s temperature regulatory mechanism

pulse

a palpable flow in the periphery as a result of pressure wave generated from stroke volume

stroke volume

the amount of blood every heartbeat pumps into the aorta

normal pulse

60-100bpm

bradycardia

under 60bpm

tachycardia

over 100bpm

force 0

absent force

force is 1+

weak force

force is 2+

normal force

force is 3+

full force

force is 4+

bounding force

bradycardia is common in…

common in athletes (developed cardiac and skeletal muscles)

tachycardia is common in…

common with anxiety or increased exercise (to match body’s demand for increased metabolism)

respiratory rate

number of breaths per minute. key indicator of pulmonary function and metabolic state

bradypnea

less than 12 breaths/min

eupnea

12-20 breaths/min

tachypnea

greater than 20 breaths per minute

blood pressure

force of blood pushing against vessel walls

systolic pressure

maximum pressure during left ventricular contraction

diastolic pressure

resting pressure between LV contractions

pulse pressure

difference between systolic and diastolic pressures

mean arterial pressure (MAP)

pressure forcing blood into tissues, averaged over cardiac cycle

hypotension

less than 90/60 mmHg

normal bp

90-60 — 120/80 mmHg

prehypertension

120/80 — 139/89 mmHg

hypertension

greater than 140/90 mmHg

orthostatic hypotension

change in HR and BP when moving from supine → sitting → standing positions

BP technique

palpate → pulse disappears → inflate 20-30 mmHg → auscultate → first sounds = systolic → cessation = diastolic

equipment for taking temperature

oral, tympanic membrane, temporal, rectal thermometers

equipment for taking bp

stethoscope, sphygmomanometer

apnea

periods without breathing

dyspnea

shortness of breath; difficulty breathing

hyperpnea

deep breathing (increased air volume)

cheyne-stokes

cycles of deeper, faster breathing and gradual decrease/apnea

kussmaul’s

deep, rapid breathing; common with diabetic ketoacidosis

abdominal breathing is used for…

counting respirations in infants/children