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EnglishforMEdiBAlprofEssions
Whatarevitalsigns?
Vitalsignsshowtheconditionofsomeone’shealthandaremonitored
bymembersofthehealthcareteamonaregularbasis.Therearefour
primaryvitalsigns:bodytemperature,bloodpressure,pulse(heart
rate)andrespiratoryrate(breathingrate),oftennotatedasBT,BP,
HRandRR.
1.
.Thoughapulsecanbetakenbyhand,astethoscopemay
berequiredforapatientwithaveryweakpulse.
Bodytemperature
Itshowshowhotorcoldthebodyisatatime.
Normalbodytemperaturerangesfrom36.5°Cto37.2°C(equivalent
to97.8°Fand99°F).2.
.
Bodytemperatureismeasuredwithathermometer,usuallyinthemouth,
earorunderthearmpit.
Bloodpressure
Thisistheforceofthebloodpushingagainstthearterywalls.
Itisrecordedastworeadings:ahighsystolicpressure(occursdur-
ingthemaximalcontractionoftheheart)andthelowerdiastolic
(orresting)pressure.3.
.
Itismeasuredwithasphygmomanometer(bloodpressurecuń)
andastethoscope,usuallyfromtheleftarm.
Pulse
Thisistherateatwhichtheheartbeatswhilepumpingbloodthrough
thearteries.4.
.
Normalpulseforhealthyadultsrangesfrom60to100beatsperminute.
Thepulseisusuallytakenatthewrist.
Respiratoryrate
Thisistherateatwhichbreathingoccursandisusuallymeasured
inbreathsperminute.5.
.
Itisusuallymeasuredwhenapersonisatrestbycountinghowmany
timesthechestrises.
Adaptedfrom:www.moteclife.co.uk
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