What are vital signs?
Vital signs are the measurements of body temperature, pulse,
respiration rate (breathing rate), and blood pressure.
Vital signs provide information about your general health.
They offer clues to medical conditions. When you are sick,
they are used to help check your return to good health.
Temperature
Body temperature is measured with a thermometer. Common
places to measure temperature include the mouth (oral
temperature), armpit (axillary temperature), anus (rectal
temperature), and ear (tympanic temperature).
Normal temperatures measured by mouth range from 97°F (36°C)
to 99°F (37°C) or slightly higher. Body temperature is
lower in the morning than it is in late afternoon and
evening. Temperature can vary with other factors, such as
stress, dehydration (not enough fluid in the body),
exercise, drinking hot or cold fluids, sitting in a cold
room, thyroid disorders, and infections. It can also vary
with where it is measured and the accuracy and type of
thermometer used.
The bodies of older adults do not control their temperature
as well as those of younger adults. For example, in warm
environments, heat is lost through perspiration. This keeps
body temperature normal. A hot environment can cause a
dangerous increase in body temperature in older adults. On
the other hand, an older adult may be very ill without
having a fever.
In cold environments, the body controls loss of heat by
limiting blood flow to the arms and legs. The control of
this process does not work as well in older adults. Older
adults need to be careful about spending a lot of time in
cold temperatures.
Pulse
Your pulse rate is a count of the number of times your heart
beats in a minute. The pulse is usually easiest to feel at
the wrist (radial pulse) or at the neck (carotid pulse). A
pulse can also be felt in the temple area of the face, at
the bend of the arms, in the groin, behind the knees, inside
the ankles, and on top of the feet.
A resting adult pulse should be between 60 and 100 beats per
minute. People who are very physically fit may have a
normal pulse less than 60.
Pulse rates can increase with infections, anxiety, stress,
surprise, caffeine, exercise, pain, thyroid disorders, some
heart conditions, anemia, shock, and other conditions. Some
medicines (such as beta blockers and digoxin) can cause a
slowed pulse. If you take these medicines, ask your
healthcare provider if you should check your pulse every day and
what changes in your pulse rate you should let your provider
know about.
Your heartbeat should be regular, without any missing or
closely spaced beats. If you have lost a lot of blood or are
going into shock, you will have a rapid and weak pulse that
is hard to feel. Hearts that are working very hard may
produce an unusually strong pulse beat.
Respiration
To check your respiration rate, count the number of
times you breathe in a minute. Your rate of breathing can
vary widely during the day. Breathing is usually a bit
slower during sleep. The best time to check your
respiration rate is when you are resting.
The normal adult rate is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Many
conditions can quickly change your breathing rate, such as
exercise, anxiety, laughter, spasms of coughing, and anger.
Pneumonia, surgery, anesthesia, and narcotics can also
change your rate of breathing.
Breathing that is unusually slow or fast can indicate a
serious condition.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force of blood on the
walls of your arteries. The arteries are the blood vessels
that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Normal blood pressure can be as high as 120/80 ("120 over
80") but blood pressure can rise and fall with exercise,
rest, or emotions. The pressures are measured in
millimeters of mercury. The upper number (120) is the
pressure when the heart pushes blood out to the rest of the
body (systolic pressure). The bottom number (80) is the
pressure when the heart rests between beats (diastolic
pressure).
- Healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80.
- Pre-high blood pressure is from 120/80 to 139/89.
- Stage I high blood pressure ranges from 140/90 to 159/99.
- Stage II high blood pressure is over 160/100.
High blood pressure is a very common problem. The longer
you have high blood pressure and the higher it is, the more
likely it is you will develop problems such as
atherosclerosis, heart failure, or a stroke. Low blood
pressure is uncommon. Talk with your healthcare provider
about what your blood pressure should be.
Should I check my own vital signs?
Checking your vital signs can help you and your healthcare
provider by alerting you to health problems. Here are some
examples of things you can do:
- Buy a good quality, digital thermometer. That way, you
can get accurate information about whether you have a
fever.
- Check your pulse if you feel ill, have a fever, feel your
heart racing, or take medicines that affect the speed of
your heart. Use your index and middle fingers. If you
don't know how to check your pulse, ask your healthcare
provider to teach you.
- One high blood pressure reading is usually not as
important as trends in the blood pressure readings. Keep
track every time your blood pressure is taken: date,
time, BP reading, where it was taken (at home, the drug
store, the clinic), and how it was taken. Talk to your
healthcare provider about how to lower your blood
pressure if it keeps being too high.
- You usually do not need to check your breathing rate
unless your healthcare provider recommends that you do so.
Written by Sharee A. Wiggins, MS(N), ARNP, BC, GNP, ANP
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2007 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.