This document discusses vital signs including body temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. It describes normal ranges for adults and factors that can influence readings. Key points are: - Vital signs provide important physiological data about the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. - Normal body temperature is 97.8-99F, pulse is 60-100 beats/min, blood pressure is <120/80 mmHg, and respiration is 12-20 breaths/min. - Readings can be affected by age, gender, activity level, medications, and medical conditions. Regular monitoring of vital signs is important for clinical assessment and treatment planning.

2. Vital signs
• Body temperature
• Pulse rate
• Blood pressure
• Respiratory rate
• Also referred to as ‘cardinal signs’

3. Importance
• Provide important data about status of cardio
respiratory system.
• Indicators of body’s physiological status and response
to physical activity, environment condition and
emotional stressors.
• Many important clinical decisions are based in part of
these measures, accuracy is essential.
• Taken at rest, during and after the exercise , these
provide important data on aerobic capacity and
endurance.
• To determine the prognosis and plan of care.

4. Alteration in vital signs values
• Lifestyle pattern and patient-
modifiable-
• Caffeine intake
• Tobacco use
• Diet
• Alcohol consumption
• response to stress
• Obesity
• Physical activity level
• Medication
• Use of illegal drugs

5. • Non – modifiable
• Hormonal status
• Age
• Gender
• Family history
-other variables are - time of day, menstruation cycle ,
general health status , emotional distress , pain.

7. Body temperature
It represent a balance between the heat
produced by the body and the amount lost.
• Factors influencing body temperature-
– Time of day
– Age
– Stress
– Exercise
– Pregancy
– External environment
– Measurement site

9. Normal body temperature
• For healthy adult –
97.8 degrees F to 99 degrees F
• It can be taken in the following ways-
– Orally
– Rectally
– Axillary
– By ear

11. Abnormalities in body temperature
• Hyperthermia [fever]
• Hypothermia

13. Types of thermometers
• Glass mercury thermometers
• Automated thermometers

18. Pulse rate
• The pulse rate measures the heart rate or
number of times the heart pushes blood
through arteries , the arteries pulsate with
each beat
• Normal pulse for adult – 60 to 100 beats per
min
• Female have faster heart rate than males.

19. pulse
Wave of blood in the artery created by the contraction of left ventricle
during cardiac cycle.
With each contraction, blood pumped into already full aorta
Elasticity of aortic walls allows expansion and acceptance of new supply
Blood forces out and waves through systemic arteries
This wave of blood is felt as a pulse

21. • PERIPHERAL PULSES –
– Temporal
– Carotid
– Brachial
– Radial
– Femoral
– Popliteal
– pedal
• APICAL PULSE-
– Left to midsternal space on 5th intercostal space, midclavicular
line
– Lub - dub

22. PARAMETERS
1. Rate
2. Rhythm
3. quality

24. • Normal pulse – full or strong and can be palpated
using moderate pressure of fingers over a bony
landmark.
• Small weak pulse – with lower volumes , pulse is
small , is easily obliterated and termed weak or
thready.
• Large , bounding pulse – with incresed volume ,
pulse is large , is difficult to oblitered and is termed a
bounding pulse
• Bigeminal – an abnormality in pulse rhythm where
two beats occur in rapid succession

25. • Pulses paradoxus – decreased amplitude of
pressure wave detected during quite
inspiration with a return to full amplitude on
expiration , in obstructive lung condition
mostly
• Pulses alternans – fluctation in amplitude
between beats with minimal changes in
overall rhythm

26. • Factors affecting pulse rate –
– Age
– Gender
– Emotional stress
– Exercise
– Medication
– Systemic or local heat

27. How to measure
• 3 finger used

28. • Bradycardia
• tachycardia

29. Pulse oximetry
• It provides a measure of aterial blood
oxygenation that updated with each pulse
wave
• O2 carried in blood in 2 forms ;
– Dissloved in arterial plasma
– Combined with hemoglobin

30. • O2 saturation via pulse oximetry is reported as spo2
and can be measured at any adequately perfused
peripheral pulse.
• Normal – 96 to 100
• Saturation level below 90 are considered significant
testing beyond the data provided by pulse oximetry.
• Hypoxemia
• Hypoxia
• Anoxia

31. • Pulse oximetry contributes to –
– Early identication of hypoxia
– Monitoring patient tolerance to activity
– Evaluting patient response to treatment

33. Respiration
• Primary function - to supply the body with O2
for metabolic activity and remove co2.
• External respiration
• Internal respiration
• Respiratory zone – alveolar ducts , alveoli ,
respiratory bronchioles
• Conductive zone – trachea , bronchi and
terminal bronchioles

34. • Inspiration – active process
• Diaphragm – moves downward
• Intercostal – lift the ribs and sternum up and
outward
• 1 to 1.5 secs

35. • Expiration – passive process
• 2 to 3 sec

36. Factors influencing respiration
• Age
• Body size and height
• Exercise
• Body position
• Environment
• Stress
• Pharmacological agents

37. Parameters of respiration
1. Rate
2. Rhythm
3. Depth
4. Sound

39. Respiratory examination

40. Blood pressure
• The force , blood exerts against the vessel wall
• Measured in millimeters in mercury [ mmHg]
• Systolic pressure
• Diastolic pressure
• Pulse pressure
– Liquid flows higher to lower pressure , pressure
highest in arteries , lower in capallaries and lowest
in veins.

41. • BP function of 2 primary elements-
– Cardiac output
– Pheipheral resistance that heart must overcome

42. Factors influencing BP
• Blood volume
• Cardiac output
• Diameter and elasticity of arteries
• exercise

43. • Valsalva maneuver
• Orthostatic hypotension
• Arm position
• Risk factor

44. Blood pressure values
Blood pressure
category
Systolic
mm Hg
Diastolic
mmHg
Normal less than 120 And Less than 80
Prehypertension 120-139 Or 80-89
High blood pressure
Stage 1
hypertension
140-159 Or 90-99
Stage 2
hypertension
160 or higher Or 100 or higher
Hypertensive crisis Higher than 180 or Higher than 120
hypotension Lower than 80 Less than 60

45. • Symptoms of high BP-
– Headache
– Nervousness
– Sweating
– Facial flushing

46. • Symptoms of low BP-
– Dizziness
– Fainting
– Nausea
– Blurred vision
– Fatigue
– Depression

47. equipments

49. Taking blood pressure
• Cuff size
• Cuff placement
• Body position

50. methods
• Auscultatory method
• Palpatory method
• Oscillatory method

56. REFRENCES
• PHYSICAL REHABILITATION SUSAN B. O’
SULLIVAN THOMAS J. SCHMITZ GEORGE D.
FULK
• CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTANT – STUDY GUIDE
BOOK
• RAY GALLOWAY – WORLD JOURNAL OF YOGA ,
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION