There are four vital signs which are standard in most medical settings:
- Body temperature
- Pulse rate (or heart rate)
- Blood pressure
- Respiratory rate
The tools that necessary to measure these vital sign are thermometer, sphygmomanometer, and watch. Stethoscope sometimes necessary to compute a weak pulse on palpation.
BODY TEMPERATURE
People’s normal body temperature are varies, depending on gender, activity, environment, food consumption, organ disturbance, and time.
Normal body temperature, according to the American Medical Association, can range between 97.8 degrees Fahrenheit, equivalent to 36.5 degrees Celsius to 99 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.2 degrees Celsius.
Person’s body temperature can be taken through:
1. Oral
Temperatures can be taken by mouth using either the classic glass thermometer or the more modern digital thermometers that use an electronic probe to measure body temperature.
2 Anal
Taken through the rectal temperature (using a glass thermometer or digital thermometer) tend to be from 0.5 to 0.7 degrees higher than when taken by mouth.
3. Axillary
Temperatures can be taken under the arm using a glass thermometer or digital thermometer. Temperatures taken by this route tend to be from 0.3 to 0.4 degrees lower than the temperature taken by mouth.
4. Ear
Special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the eardrum, which reflects the core body temperature (temperature of the internal organs).
Abnormal body temperature due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature). Marked fever when body temperature rises above 37 degrees Celsius on oral or 37.7 degrees Celsius on rectal, however according to the American Medical Association, hypothermia is defined as a decrease in body temperature below 35 degrees Celsius.
The main reason for checking body temperature is to know the signs of systemic infection or inflammation (> 38.5 degree Celsius or continuous > 38 degree celsius).
Temperature depression (hypothermia) also needs to be evaluated. It is important to review the patient’s temperature trends.
Temperature depression (hypothermia) also needs to be evaluated. It is important to review the patient’s temperature trends.
PULSE RATE
The pulse is the physical expansion of the artery. It can be measured at the wrist or ankle and recorded as beats per minute. Pulse is usually palpate on radial artery at wrist. Sometimes behind the elbow ( A. brachial is), in the neck against the carotid artery (carotid pulse), behind the knee ( A. popliteal ), or on foot dorsalis pedis or posterior tibial artery.
The pulse can also be measured by listening directly to the heartbeat using a stethoscope.
The pulse can also be measured by listening directly to the heartbeat using a stethoscope.
Pulse are varies by ages;
1. Newborns or infants around 130-150 beats per minute,
2. Toddler approximately 100-120 times per minute,
3. Child is around 90-110 beats per minute,
4. Adolescents around 80-100 beats per minute,
5. Adults are between 60 and 80 beats per minute.
The pulse is the amount of heart rate, or how many times the heart beats per minute. Assessing the pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also to review heart rhythm and the power of heart rate. Pulse rate may fluctuate and increase when exercising, suffering from an illness, injury, and emotions.
BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure is a driving force of blood against artery walls, pressure is determined by the strength and amount of blood pumped, and the size and flexibility of the arteries, blood pressure is measured by sphgmomanometer and a stethoscope.
Blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, attitude, physical condition, and medications. It was recorded in two parts, named the systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure is the maximum contraction of the heart, while the diastolic pressure is the resting pressure.
Blood pressure is usually given on the left arm unless there is some damage to the arm. The difference between systolic and diastolic pressure is called pulse pressure.
High blood pressure or hypertension, directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack). With high blood pressure, the artery may have increased resistance to blood flow, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate blood.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), hypertension for adults is defined as: systolic pressure 140 mm Hg or higher and diastolic pressure 90 mm Hg or higher
In the update of NHLBI guidelines for hypertension in the year 2003, a new blood pressure category was added called prehypertension which are 120 mm Hg systolic pressure – 139 mm Hg and diastolic pressure 80 mm Hg – 89 mm Hg.
RESPIRATORY RATE
Respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. Rate of respiration usually measured when a person in a quiet position and only involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the chest rise.
Respiration may be increased at the time of fever, exercise, emotions. When checking respiration, it is important to also note whether a person has difficulty breathing. Normal respiration for adults in the range of 12-20 times per minute.
