Medical Vital Signs

This medical examination routinely did and monitored by healthcare professionals to help assess the general health of a person. Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. The normal ranges vary with person to person, age, weight, gender, and overall health. The four primary vital signs include:

• Body temperature
• Pulse rate (Heart rate)
• Respiration rate (rate of breathing)
• Blood pressure

English: Pulse evaluation Deutsch: Pulstastung (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I.  Body temperature

The temperature obtained through a thermometer.  The temperature measured in either degrees Celsius (C) or degrees Fahrenheit (F). The normal body temperature can range from 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit to 99 degrees F, equivalent to 36.5 degrees C to 37.2 degrees C. The normal body temperature of a healthy person varies depending on gender, recent activity or exercise, the time of the day, and during menstrual periods in women. Usually an elevated temperature (in a fever) indicates signs of systemic infection or inflammation. 
Body temperature is usually taken in any of the following methods:

Oral

It is by mouth placed under the tongue using either a classic glass thermometer or a digital thermometer that uses an electronic probe to measure body temperature. This method is the preferred among adults.

Rectal/Anal

The temperature taken rectally using a glass or a digital thermometer. The thermometer inserted in the anus about 1 inch. The anal reading is 1 degree higher because it is higher than the core temperature compared to the oral method. This method is the preferred among children.

Axillary

The thermometer placed under the arm using a glass or a digital thermometer. The axillary reading will be 1 degree lower than those temperatures taken by mouth because it is not a core temperature reading. 

Tympanic

A special thermometer used for this reading. It goes inside the ear to obtain the body's core temperature. 

Temporal

A special thermometer used to quickly measure the temperature of the skin on the forehead and swiped along one side of the face. 

Skin

These are strips that measure the patient's temperature. This method used when there is no other way to get the temperature reading available because the accuracy in not good. 






II.  Pulse Rate

This measures the number of times the heart beats per minute (BPM). It is the physical expansion of the artery as the heart pushes blood to the arteries. Taking the pulse rate will also determine the strength of the pulse and the heart rhythm. Pulse rate increases with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. It varies with age. Infants have higher beats per minutes compared to adults. Place the tips of your index and middle fingers just proximal to the patient wrist on the thumb side to measure the radial pulse rate.


Normal Values

• Infant: 100 to 130 bpm
• Child:  80 to 100 bpm
• Adult:  60 to 100 bpm

Pulse site

• Brachial
• Carotid
• Dorsal pedal
• Femoral popliteal
• Posterior tibial
• Radial
• Temporal
• Common sites: carotid and radial pulse site

Related Terms

• Bradycardia is a condition of a heart rate consistently  below 100 bpm. Beating is too slow
• Tachycardia when the heart is above 100 bpm. Beating is too fast
• Strong/Regular pulse indicates that there is an adequate force and consistent beats
• Weak indicates a poor force contraction
• Irregular indicates an arrhythmia. Out of normal rhythm

 

Peripheral Pulse Assessment Grading System

• 0-3 scale
• 0 absent
• 1+ weak/thready pulse
• 2+ normal
• 3+ full, firm pulse

Pulse Amplitude Classification

• 0 absent
• 1+ diminished
• 2+ normal
• 3+ moderately increased
• 4+ markedly increased

III. Respiratory Rate

The respiratory rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute, that is an inhalation-exhalation cycle. Respiration recorded as breaths per minute. It varies with age and increases with fever, illness, or other medical conditions.  Respiratory rate indicates an acidosis condition.

Inspiration - to breathe air into the lungs
Expiration - to breathe air out of the lungs

Normal Rate

• Infant 30 to 50 respiration per minute
• Adults 12 to 18 respiration per minute

IV.  Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force that moves blood through our circulatory system. I have a blog post on this topic.