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2. BODY TEMPERATURE
 THE NORMAL BODY TEMPERATURE OF A PERSON VARIES DEPENDING ON
GENDER, RECENT ACTIVITY, FOOD AND FLUID CONSUMPTION, TIME OF DAY,
AND, IN WOMEN, THE STAGE OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE. NORMAL BODY
TEMPERATURE CAN RANGE FROM 97.8° F (36.5°C) TO 99°F (37.2°C) FOR A
HEALTHY ADULT.

3. WAYS TO TAKE THE BODY TEMPERATURE:
•ORALLY. TEMPERATURE CAN BE TAKEN BY MOUTH USING EITHER THE CLASSIC GLASS THERMOMETER, OR
DIGITAL THERMOMETERS THAT USE AN ELECTRONIC PROBE TO MEASURE BODY TEMPERATURE.
•RECTALLY. TEMPERATURES TAKEN RECTALLY (USING A GLASS OR DIGITAL THERMOMETER) TEND TO BE 0.5°F TO
0.7°F HIGHER THAN WHEN TAKEN BY MOUTH. THIS IS MORE COMMON IN BABIES BECAUSE THEIR BODY DOESN'T
REGULATE TEMPERATURE THE WAY AN OLDER CHILD OR ADULT'S BODY DOES.
•ARMPIT (AXILLARY). TEMPERATURES CAN BE TAKEN UNDER THE ARM USING A GLASS OR DIGITAL THERMOMETER.
TEMPERATURES TAKEN BY THIS ROUTE TEND TO BE 0.3°F TO 0.4°F LOWER THAN THOSE TEMPERATURES TAKEN BY
MOUTH.
•BY EAR. A SPECIAL THERMOMETER CAN QUICKLY MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE EARDRUM, WHICH
REFLECTS THE BODY'S CORE TEMPERATURE (THE TEMPERATURE OF THE INTERNAL ORGANS).
•BY SKIN. A SPECIAL THERMOMETER CAN QUICKLY MEASURE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE SKIN ON THE FOREHEAD.
•INTERNALLY. THIS METHOD IS COMMON IN PEOPLE WHO ARE CRITICALLY ILL IN AN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. THE
TEMPERATURE CAN BE MEASURED BY PROBES THAT ARE PLACED IN THE ESOPHAGUS, HEART, OR BLADDER.

4. PULSE RATE
THE PULSE RATE IS A MEASUREMENT OF THE HEART RATE. THIS IS THE NUMBER OF TIMES THE
HEART BEATS PER MINUTE. AS THE HEART PUSHES BLOOD THROUGH THE ARTERIES, THE
ARTERIES EXPAND AND CONTRACT WITH THE FLOW OF THE BLOOD. TAKING A PULSE NOT
ONLY MEASURES THE HEART RATE, BUT ALSO CAN INDICATE THE FOLLOWING:
•HEART RHYTHM
•STRENGTH OF THE PULSE
THE NORMAL PULSE FOR HEALTHY ADULTS RANGES FROM 60 TO 100 BEATS PER MINUTE. THE
PULSE RATE MAY FLUCTUATE AND INCREASE WITH EXERCISE, ILLNESS, INJURY, AND
EMOTIONS. FEMALES AGES 12 AND OLDER, IN GENERAL, TEND TO HAVE FASTER HEART RATES
THAN DO MALES. ATHLETES, SUCH AS RUNNERS, WHO DO A LOT OF CARDIOVASCULAR
CONDITIONING, MAY HAVE HEART RATES NEAR 40 BEATS PER MINUTE WITH NO PROBLEMS.

5. HOW TO CHECK YOUR PULSE
AS THE HEART FORCES BLOOD THROUGH THE ARTERIES, YOU FEEL THE BEATS BY FIRMLY PRESSING ON THE
ARTERIES, WHICH ARE LOCATED CLOSE TO THE SURFACE OF THE SKIN AT CERTAIN POINTS OF THE BODY. THE
PULSE CAN BE FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE NECK, ON THE INSIDE OF THE ELBOW, AT THE WRIST, OR IN THE GROIN.
FOR MOST PEOPLE, IT'S EASIEST TO TAKE THE PULSE AT THE WRIST. IF YOU USE THE LOWER NECK, BE SURE NOT
TO PRESS TOO HARD. NEVER PRESS ON THE PULSES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LOWER NECK AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS CAN BLOCK BLOOD FLOW TO THE BRAIN.
WHEN TAKING YOUR PULSE:
•USING THE FIRST AND SECOND FINGERTIPS, PRESS FIRMLY BUT GENTLY ON THE ARTERIES UNTIL YOU FEEL A
PULSE.
•START COUNTING THE PULSE WHEN THE CLOCK'S SECOND HAND IS ON THE 12.
•COUNT YOUR PULSE FOR 60 SECONDS (OR FOR 15 SECONDS AND THEN MULTIPLY BY 4 TO CALCULATE BEATS PER
MINUTE).
•WHEN COUNTING, DON'T WATCH THE CLOCK CONTINUOUSLY, BUT CONCENTRATE ON THE BEATS OF THE PULSE.
•IF UNSURE ABOUT YOUR RESULTS, ASK ANOTHER PERSON TO COUNT FOR YOU.

7. RESPIRATION
 THE RESPIRATION RATE IS THE NUMBER OF BREATHS YOU TAKE EACH
MINUTE. THE RATE IS USUALLY MEASURED WHEN YOU ARE AT REST. IT SIMPLY
INVOLVES COUNTING THE NUMBER OF BREATHS FOR ONE MINUTE BY
COUNTING HOW MANY TIMES YOUR CHEST RISES. RESPIRATION RATES MAY
INCREASE WITH EXERCISE, FEVER, ILLNESS, AND WITH OTHER MEDICAL
CONDITIONS. WHEN CHECKING RESPIRATION, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALSO NOTE
WHETHER YOU HAVE ANY TROUBLE BREATHING.
 NORMAL RESPIRATION RATES FOR AN ADULT PERSON AT REST RANGE FROM
12 TO 20 BREATHS PER MINUTE.

8. BLOOD PRESSURE
 BLOOD PRESSURE IS THE FORCE OF THE BLOOD PUSHING AGAINST THE ARTERY WALLS
DURING CONTRACTION AND RELAXATION OF THE HEART. EACH TIME THE HEART BEATS, IT
PUMPS BLOOD INTO THE ARTERIES. IT RESULTS IN THE HIGHEST BLOOD PRESSURE AS THE
HEART CONTRACTS. WHEN THE HEART RELAXES, THE BLOOD PRESSURE FALLS.
 TWO NUMBERS ARE RECORDED WHEN MEASURING BLOOD PRESSURE. THE HIGHER
NUMBER IS CALLED SYSTOLIC PRESSURE. IT REFERS TO THE PRESSURE INSIDE THE
ARTERY WHEN THE HEART CONTRACTS AND PUMPS BLOOD THROUGH THE BODY. THE
LOWER NUMBER IS CALLED DIASTOLIC PRESSURE. IT REFERS TO THE PRESSURE INSIDE
THE ARTERY WHEN THE HEART IS AT REST AND IS FILLING WITH BLOOD. BOTH PRESSURES
ARE RECORDED AS "MM HG" (MILLIMETERS OF MERCURY).
 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE DIRECTLY INCREASES THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK, HEART
FAILURE, AND STROKE. WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, THE ARTERIES MAY HAVE AN
INCREASED RESISTANCE AGAINST THE FLOW OF BLOOD. THIS CAUSES THE HEART TO
WORK HARDER TO CIRCULATE THE BLOOD.

9. BLOOD PRESSURE IS CATEGORIZED AS NORMAL, ELEVATED, OR STAGE 1 OR
STAGE 2 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:
•NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE IS SYSTOLIC OF LESS THAN 120 AND DIASTOLIC OF
LESS THAN 80 (120/80)
•ELEVATED BLOOD PRESSURE IS SYSTOLIC OF 120 TO 129 AND DIASTOLIC LESS
THAN 80
•STAGE 1 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS SYSTOLIC IS 130 TO 139 OR DIASTOLIC
BETWEEN 80 TO 89
•STAGE 2 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE IS WHEN SYSTOLIC IS 140 OR HIGHER OR THE
DIASTOLIC IS 90 OR HIGHER

10. BEFORE YOU MEASURE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES FOR HOME BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING:
•DON'T SMOKE OR DRINK COFFEE FOR 30 MINUTES BEFORE TAKING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE.
•GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE THE TEST.
•RELAX FOR 5 MINUTES BEFORE TAKING THE MEASUREMENT.
•SIT WITH YOUR BACK SUPPORTED (DON'T SIT ON A COUCH OR SOFT CHAIR). KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE FLOOR UNCROSSED. PLACE
YOUR ARM ON A SOLID FLAT SURFACE (LIKE A TABLE) WITH THE UPPER PART OF THE ARM AT HEART LEVEL. PLACE THE MIDDLE OF THE
CUFF DIRECTLY ABOVE THE BEND OF THE ELBOW. CHECK THE MONITOR'S INSTRUCTION MANUAL FOR AN ILLUSTRATION.
•TAKE MULTIPLE READINGS. WHEN YOU MEASURE, TAKE 2 TO 3 READINGS ONE MINUTE APART AND RECORD ALL THE RESULTS.
•TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AT THE SAME TIME EVERY DAY, OR AS YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER RECOMMENDS.
•RECORD THE DATE, TIME, AND BLOOD PRESSURE READING.
•TAKE THE RECORD WITH YOU TO YOUR NEXT MEDICAL APPOINTMENT. IF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE MONITOR HAS A BUILT-IN MEMORY,
SIMPLY TAKE THE MONITOR WITH YOU TO YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT.
•CALL YOUR PROVIDER IF YOU HAVE SEVERAL HIGH READINGS. DON'T BE FRIGHTENED BY A SINGLE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
READING, BUT IF YOU GET SEVERAL HIGH READINGS, CHECK IN WITH YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER.
•WHEN BLOOD PRESSURE REACHES A SYSTOLIC (TOP NUMBER) OF 180 OR HIGHER OR DIASTOLIC (BOTTOM NUMBER) OF 110 OR
HIGHER, SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL TREATMENT.

12.  PAIN IS A HIGHLY COMPLEX AND SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE CENTRAL
NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) AND/OR PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (PNS).
 NOCICEPTORS ARE SPECIALIZED NERVE ENDINGS DESIGNED TO DETECT PAINFUL SENSATIONS FROM THE
PERIPHERY AND TRANSMIT THEM TO THE CNS.
 NOCICEPTORS ARE LOCATED PRIMARILY WITHIN THE SKIN, JOINTS, CONNECTIVE TISSUE, MUSCLE, AND
THORACIC, ABDOMINAL, AND PELVIC VISCERA.
 NOCICEPTORS CAN BE STIMULATED DIRECTLY BY MECHANICAL OR THERMAL TRAUMA OR SECONDARILY
BY CHEMICAL MEDIATORS THAT ARE RELEASED FROM THE SITE OF TISSUE DAMAGE.
 NOCICEPTORS CARRY THE PAIN SIGNAL TO THE CNS BY TWO PRIMARY SENSORY FIBERS: AΔ AND C
FIBERS

13. NOCICEPTIVE PAIN - DEVELOPS WHEN FUNCTIONING AND INTACT NERVE FIBERS IN THE PERIPHERY AND THE
CNS ARE STIMULATED.
NOCICEPTIVE PAIN CAN BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR PHASES:
TRANSDUCTION
TRANSMISSION
PERCEPTION
MODULATION
NEUROPATHIC PAIN – PAIN THAT DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE TYPICAL AND RATHER PREDICTABLE PHASES IN
NOCICEPTIVE PAIN.

14. SOURCES OF PAIN:
 VISCERAL PAIN – ORIGINATES FROM THE LARGER INTERNAL ORGANS
 SOMATIC PAIN – ORIGINATES FROM MUSCULOSKELETAL TISSUES OR THE BODY SURFACE
 DEEP SOMATIC PAIN – COMES FROM SOURCES SUCH AS THE BLOOD VESSELS, JOINTS, TENDONS,
MUSCLES, AND BONE.
 CUTANEOUS PAIN – IS DERIVED FROM THE SKIN SURFACE AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUES.
 REFERRED PAIN – PAIN THAT IS FELT AT A PARTICULAR SITE BUT ORIGINATES FROM ANOTHER LOCATION.

15. TYPES OF PAIN:
ACUTE PAIN – IS SHORT TERM AND SELF-LIMITING, OFTEN FOLLOWS A PREDICTABLE TRAJECTORY, AND
DISSIPATES AFTER AN INJURY HEALS.
CHRONIC PAIN – IS DIAGNOSED WHEN THE PAIN CONTINUES FOR 6 MONTHS OR LONGER. IT CAN LAST 5,15,
OR 20 YEARS AND BEYOND.

17.  MENTAL STATUS – IS A PERSON’S EMOTIONAL AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION
 MENTAL HEALTH – IS A STATE OF WELL-BEING IN WHICH EVERY INDIVIDUAL REALIZES HIS OR HER OWN
POTENTIAL, CAN COPE WITH NORMAL STRESSES OF LIFE, CAN WORK PRODUCTIVELY AND FRUITFULLY,
AN IS ABLE TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TO HER OR HIS COMMUNITY.
 MENTAL DISORDER – IS APPARENT WHEN A PERSON’S RESPONSE IS MUCH GREATER THAN THE
EXPECTED REACTION TO A TRAUMATIC LIFE EVENT.
ORGANIC DISORDERS
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL DISORDERS
 CONSCIOUSNESS – BEING AWARE OF ONE’S OWN EXISTENCE, FEELINGS, AND THOUGHTS AND OF THE
ENVIRONMENT.

18.  LANGUAGE – USING THE VOICE TO COMMUNICATE ONE’S THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS.
 AFFECT – IS A TEMPORARY EXPRESSION OF FEELINGS OR STATE OF MIND
 MOOD – A PROLONGED DISPLAY OF FEELINGS THAT COLOR THE WHOLE EMOTIONAL LIFE.
 ORIENTATION – THE AWARENESS OF THE OBJECTIVE WORLD IN RELATION TO THE SELF.
 ATTENTION – THE POWER OF CONCENTRATION, THE ABILITY TO FOCUS ON ONE SPECIFIC THING
WITHOUT BEING DISTRACTED BY MANY ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULI.
 MEMORY – THE ABILITY TO LAY DOWN AND STORE EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS FOR LATER RECALL.
 ABSTRACT REASONING – PONDERING A DEEPER MEANING BEYOND THE CONCRETE AND LITERAL.
 THOUGHT PROCESS – THE WAY A PERSON THINKS
 THOUGHT CONTENT – WHAT THE PERSON THINKS
 PERCEPTIONS – AN AWARENESS OF OBJECTS THROUGH THE FIVE SENSES

19. COMPONENTS OF THE MENTAL STATUS EXAMINATION
 APPEARANCE
 BEHAVIOR
 COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS
 THOUGHT PROCESSES AND PERCEPTIONS