Post on 18-Jan-2016
Vital Signs
Vital Signs
• Homeostasis – state of equilibrium
• Vital Signs – assessment of pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and temperature– Body functions essential to life
The Pulse
• Measurement of heartbeat– Blood vessels expand & contract when heart
beats– Reflects condition of circulatory system– Normal = 60 to 100 beats per minute– Tachycardia = higher than 100– Bradycardia = below 60
The Pulse
• Rapid but weak pulse– Shock– Bleeding– Diabetic coma– Heat exhaustion
• Rapid and strong– Heat stroke– Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Circulatory System
• Arteries – vessels carry blood away from heart to body
• Veins – vessels carry blood from body to heart
Pulse Sites
• Radial
• Carotid
• Apical – apex of heart
Other Pulse Sites
• Temporal Artery
• Brachial Artery
• Femoral Artery
• Popliteal Artery – back of knee
• Dorsalis Pedis - foot
Respiration
• Respiration – breathing; brings oxygen into body while taking carbon dioxide out of body
• Single respiration – one inspiration (in) and one expiration (out)
Respiration
• 15 years and older – 15 to 20 breaths per minute
• Well-trained athlete – 6 to 8 breaths per minute
Abnormal Respirations
• Apnea – cessation of breathing; temporary or permanent
• Bradypnea – abnormally slow
• Cheyne-Stokes – grossly irregular consisting of apnea with fast or slow
• Dyspnea – difficult or painful breathing
• Tachynea – abnormally rapid
• Kussmaul’s – deep, gasping respirations
Blood Pressure
• Blood Pressure – the pressure exerted by the circulating blood against the walls of the arteries
• Systolic – top number– Heart is contracting
• Diastolic – bottom number– Heart is relaxing
Blood Pressure
• Normal – 120/80
• Abnormal systolic – below 100 or above 140
• Abnormal diastolic – below 65 or above 90
• BP is mearsured in mm Hg
Blood Pressure
• Hypertension – high blood pressure– Indicator of cardiac problems and strokes
• Hypotension – low blood pressure– Could indicate shock, dehydration, or internal
bleeding
Temperature
• Temperature – internal body temp.
• Normal – 98.6º F
• Abnormal – illness, heat exhaustion, heat stroke