What are vital signs and why are they important? (2024)

Doctors measure vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature, to understand how a body works and to detect and control health problems.

Vility signs are measurements of the body's basic functions.

  • body temperature
  • Heart rhythm (the speed of your heartbeat)
  • Breathing frequency (breathing speed)
  • Blood pressure
  • Oxygen saturation (the amount of oxygen circulating in your blood)

Vility boards are useful for detecting or following health problems and warning medical professionals for possible worries.

In this article we investigate what vital signs are, how they are measured and what they can tell us about our health.

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Measurement of vital signs is usually the first step in almost every medical evaluation.

By consistently monitoring the vital signs of a person, such as with any health control, a doctor can determine a basic line for this person.Illness or heart problem, which has not yet been diagnosed.

Which factors influence vital signs?

Falling signs can swing or change when a person is sick, experiences certain drugs or experiences pain, fear or stress.

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Your heart rate or heart rate measures the number of times that your heart beats every minute.

The normal heartbeat for a healthy adult varies from 60 to 100 strokes per day.

People who were awarded to women at birth usually have slightly higher heartbeat than people who were masculine at birth.

How to measure your wrist

For most people it is easiest to measure your heartbeat by the wrist.

  1. Use your first and second fingertips, gently press the arteries that run under the skin of your wrist (just below your hand) until you feel a heartbeat.
  2. Has a clock nearby and starts to count your heartbeat when the used Klok 12 is.
  3. Count your heart rate for 15 seconds and then multiply this number by 4 to calculate the number of strokes per day. Minute.
  4. It may be worth repeating the count to see if you get the same number.
  5. If you are not sure of your results or continue to achieve different results, ask someone to count or see the clock for you.

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INBreathing frequencyIs the number of breathing that a person takes every minute.that moment.

Like other vital signs, a breathing speed can increase with fever, illness or other medical conditions or circ*mstances.

A normal respiratory rate for a healthy adult usually varies from 12 to 16 breathing per day. Minute.To measure your respiratory speed, you count the number of breathing or times you inhale for 15 seconds and multiply this number by 4.

A normal body temperature can vary depending on your gender at birth, newer activity, food and liquid consumption, time of the day and in people who menstrual period, the scene of the menstrual cycle.

For adults, normal body temperatures can vary from 97.8 ° F to 99 ° F (36.5 ° C to 37.2 ° C).

A body temperature can be measured in one of the following ways:

  • Oral:A glacing meter or a digital thermometer using an electronic probe can measure the body temperature from the mouth.
  • Rectal:Temperatures that are taken rectally with the help of a glass or digital thermometer is usually slightly higher than when they are taken through the mouth.
  • Axilly:Temperatures taken under the arm with the help of a glass or digital thermometer are usually slightly lower than temperatures taken out of the mouth.
  • Van Oor:A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the eardrum, which reflects the temperature of the body.
  • Door HUD:A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the skin on the pan.

What is a fever?

INfeverIs when the body temperature rises to a level that is higher than normal.

  • In adults:higher than 99 ° F to 99.5 ° F (37.2 ° C to 37.5 ° C)
  • In children:higher than 99.5 ° F (37.5 ° C)
  • With infants:higher than 100.4 ° F (38 ° C)

Fever is often in the short -term rises in body temperature that helps your body to combat infection or disease.

Contact a doctor if you have a fever above 38 ° C (38 ° C) that lasts more than 3 days.

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Oxygen saturationIf the amount of oxygen in your blood

For most healthy adults, a normal oxygen saturation level is between 95% and 100% below 95% means that your body does not get enough oxygen and needs medical help.

You can check your oxygen saturation speed at home with a device that one is mentionedPulsoximeter.You can buy a pulse oximeter in most stores that have health -related items.

To use, simply add your fingertip in the small device.

If you have any questions, you can talk to a health care professional about how you can use your pulse oximeter and understand the measurements.can affectAccuracy, such as:

  • Dark skin colors
  • nail polish
  • cold fingers

Blood pressure is the power used to move blood throughcardiovascular system.

Blood pressure is measured in Millimeters Kwik (MM HG) with two numbers:

  • Systolic (Top Number):When the heart contracts
  • Diastolic pressure (bottom):When the heart relaxes

Healthcare staff generally uses four categories to define blood pressure measurements in adults:

  • Healthy a Snell:The systolic number is 120 or less and the diastolic number is 80 or less.
  • Raised:The systolic number is between 120 and 129 and the diastolic number is less than 80.
  • Phase 1 Hypertension:The systolic number is between 130 and 139, or the diastolic number is between 80 and 89.
  • Phase 2 Hypertension:The systolic number is 140 or higher, or the diastolic number is 90 or higher.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

High bloodpressureCan be a sign of a serious or even life -threatening disease.

Because high blood pressure usuallyhas no symptomsOr early warning signals, there is no way to know if your blood pressure is high without measuring it.

This can be done at your medical office.Many pharmacies also have automated blood pressure monitoring equipment to help you check your pressure between the agreements of doctors.

If you have a family history of heart disease or other risk factors, your doctor can advise you to check your blood pressure at least twice a year.

Your doctor can also talk about itGuard your blood pressure at home.This helps your health team to check the changes in your blood pressure from day to day.

Blood pressure monitoring at home

Blood pressure can be measured by an aneroid monitor or a digital screen.

A digital screen flashes the measurement on a screen, usually in red numbers.

Blood pressure cuffs that run around the upper arm are more accurate than those walking around in a wrist or finger.

How you can measure your blood pressure at home

How you can take an exact blood pressure reading at home:

  1. Make sure you have not had a caffeinated drink, such as coffee or tea, at least 1 hour before you perform the measurement.
  2. Do not smoke at least 15 minutes before taking the measurement.
  3. A complete bladder can compensate for the pressure solution, so make sure you use the bathroom before the measurement.
  4. Is comfortable for at least 5 minutes before checking your pressure.
  5. Make sure your back is supported and that your legs are not crossed firmly on the floor with your feet.
  6. Your arm must rest and be supported at the same level as your heart.
  7. It is best to check blood pressure in both arms to verify an accurate reading.

If you see that the systolic (upper) number 180 or higher, or if the diastolic (lower) number is 110 or higher, search for the treatment of emergency medicine.

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Make sure you take your blood pressure every day at the same time and record the date, time and reading.To your medical office if you notice that you have different high measurements.It can determine whether there is a concern.

Don't forget to make a copy of your blood pressure values ​​for every appointment with your doctor.

Like adults,Drawing fish situations for childrenTake on heart rate, respiratory speed, body temperature and blood pressure.The know -normal intervals of vital signs of your child can help you notice problems or to alleviate the worries that you have if your child is not good.

The table below shows normal vital signs for infants, children and teenagers:

VitaleInfant
(0-12 months)
Barn
(1-11 years old)
Teenager
(12 years and higher)
Heartbeat100–160 BPM70–20 bpm60–100 BPM
Breathing frequency0 to 6 months: 30-60 BPM
6 to 12 months: 24-30 BPM
1 to 5 years: 20-30 BPM
6 to 11 years: 12-20 BPM
12–18 BPM
Blood pressure0 to 6 months: 65 to 90/45 to 65 mm Hg
6 to 12 months: 80 to 100/55 to 65 mm Hg
90 dead 110/55 dead 75 mm Hg110 dead 135/65 dead 85 mm Hg
Temperatureall ages:
98,6 ° F (37 ° C)
NormalT -interval: 97,4 ° F - 99,6 ° F (36,3 ° C - 37,5 ° C)
all ages:
98,6 ° F (37 ° C)
NormalT -interval: 97,4 ° F - 99,6 ° F (36,3 ° C - 37,5 ° C)
all ages:
98,6 ° F (37 ° C)
NormalT -interval: 97,4 ° F - 99,6 ° F (36,3 ° C - 37,5 ° C)

Vility signs measure the basic functions of the body.This includes your temperature, heart rate, breathing frequency, blood pressure and oxygen saturation.

In almost every health care agreement, a doctor, nurse or other member of the health team takes your vital signs and registers.

It is important to determine and detect basic measurements.

What are vital signs and why are they important? (2024)
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