Vital Signs (26)

Afebrile

a condition in which the body temperature is not elevated

Apnea

the absence of breathing

Auscultatory gap

• period of diminished or absent Korotkoff sounds

• occurs during the manual measurement of blood pressure

Atrial fibrillation

• an irregular and often very fast heartbeat

• most common type of heart rhythm disorder

Blood pressure

force of blood against arterial walls

Bradycardia

slow heart rate

Bradypnea

slow rate of breathing

Diastolic pressure

the bottom number that measures pressure when the heart rests between beats

Dyspnea

difficult or labored breathing

Dysrhythmia

an abnormal cardiac rhythm

Eupnea

normal respirations

Febrile

condition in which the body temperature is elevated

Fever (pyrexia)

• a temporary rise in your body temperature

• usually caused by an illness or infection

• aka: pyrexia

Hypertension

elevated blood pressure

Hyperthermia

high body temperature

Hyperventilation

• rapid or deep breathing that causes you to exhale more carbon dioxide than you inhale

• aka: overbreathing

Hypotension

low blood pressure

Hypothermia

low body temperature

Hypoventilation

decreased rate or depth of air movement into the lungs

Korotkoff sounds

• tapping and thumping noises

• indicates changes in blood flow through an artery as pressure is released.

• happens during blood pressure

Orthopnea

when breathing is easier when the patient sits or stands

Orthostatic (postural) hypotension

• a sudden drop in blood pressure that happens when you stand up after sitting or lying down

• aka: postural hypotension

Pulse

wave produced in the wall of an artery with each beat of the heart

Pulse deficit

• difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

• PD = apical - radial

Pulse Pressure

difference between systolic and diastolic pressures

Respirations

• the act of breathing

• the process of taking oxygen into the body and releasing carbon dioxide

• the number of times a person breathes in and out in one minute.

Systolic pressure

The first faint, but clear, sound that appears during blood pressure

Tachycardia

rapid heart rate

Tachypnea

rapid rate of breathing

Temperature

the hotness or coldness of a substance

Vital (cardinal) signs

• body temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, and blood pressure

• aka: cardinal signs