Vital signs are very important for understanding how healthy a patient is. They give doctors key information during check-ups. Here are the main vital signs:
Body Temperature: The normal body temperature for people is between 36.1°C and 37.2°C. If someone has a fever, their temperature is usually over 38°C. A fever can mean there is an infection or inflammation. About 1 out of 6 visits to the emergency room are because of infections.
Pulse Rate: For adults, the normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). If the heart rate is above 100 bpm, it's called tachycardia. This can mean there are problems like dehydration or anemia. If the heart rate is below 60 bpm, it's called bradycardia, which might suggest heart issues.
Respiratory Rate: Adults normally breathe 12 to 20 times per minute. If someone breathes more than 30 times per minute, it can be a sign of serious health problems, like pneumonia or a blood clot in the lungs.
Blood Pressure: Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg for the top number (systolic) and less than 80 mmHg for the bottom number (diastolic). About 45% of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, strokes, and kidney problems.
Oxygen Saturation: The normal level of oxygen in the blood should be between 95% and 100%. If it falls below 90%, this could mean there is a problem with breathing and immediate help is needed.
Looking at these vital signs together helps doctors understand a patient's overall health. For example, a fast heartbeat, high breathing rate, and low oxygen level could mean someone has sepsis, a serious condition affecting about 1.7 million adults in the U.S. every year.
Knowing how to measure these vital signs correctly helps healthcare workers spot problems quickly. This is very important for treating both new and ongoing health issues effectively.
Vital signs are very important for understanding how healthy a patient is. They give doctors key information during check-ups. Here are the main vital signs:
Body Temperature: The normal body temperature for people is between 36.1°C and 37.2°C. If someone has a fever, their temperature is usually over 38°C. A fever can mean there is an infection or inflammation. About 1 out of 6 visits to the emergency room are because of infections.
Pulse Rate: For adults, the normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). If the heart rate is above 100 bpm, it's called tachycardia. This can mean there are problems like dehydration or anemia. If the heart rate is below 60 bpm, it's called bradycardia, which might suggest heart issues.
Respiratory Rate: Adults normally breathe 12 to 20 times per minute. If someone breathes more than 30 times per minute, it can be a sign of serious health problems, like pneumonia or a blood clot in the lungs.
Blood Pressure: Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg for the top number (systolic) and less than 80 mmHg for the bottom number (diastolic). About 45% of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, strokes, and kidney problems.
Oxygen Saturation: The normal level of oxygen in the blood should be between 95% and 100%. If it falls below 90%, this could mean there is a problem with breathing and immediate help is needed.
Looking at these vital signs together helps doctors understand a patient's overall health. For example, a fast heartbeat, high breathing rate, and low oxygen level could mean someone has sepsis, a serious condition affecting about 1.7 million adults in the U.S. every year.
Knowing how to measure these vital signs correctly helps healthcare workers spot problems quickly. This is very important for treating both new and ongoing health issues effectively.