Unit 1: Vital Signs and Body Measurements

Flashcards for a lesson on vital signs and body measurements.

Vital signs

Temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure

Vital signs importance

They are often the first indicators of disease or abnormalities

Other health indicators

• Degrees of pain

• Color of skin

• Size of pupils

• Reaction of pupils to light

• Level of consciousness

• Reaction to stimuli

Body measurements

Height and weight

Body measurement importance

To determine weight health status and treatment paths

Types of scales

• Balance beam scales

• Infant scales (lying down)

• Bed and wheelchair scales (for those with disabilities)

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A numeric value of a person’s weight in relation to their height, indicating the amount of body fat for most people

BMI limitations

People with differing bone structure or greater muscle mass may have an increased weight, thus having an appearance of an overweight or obese BMI with lower fat