Transcript Vital Signs
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