Vital Signs

What are vital signs?

Vital signs are the measurements of body temperature, pulse, respiration (breathing) rate, and blood pressure. Vital signs provide information about your general health. They offer clues to diseases and help evaluate your progress toward recovery.

Temperature

Body temperature is measured with a thermometer. Common places to measure temperature include the mouth (oral temperature), armpit (axillary temperature), anus (rectal temperature), and ear (tympanic temperature).

In general, the normal temperature measured by mouth is 98.6°F (37°C). Some people have normal body temperatures of 97°F (36°C) while others are normal at 99°F (37°C) or slightly higher.

Body temperature is lower in the morning than it is in late afternoon and evening. Temperature can vary with other factors, such as stress, dehydration, exercise, drinking hot or cold fluids, sitting in a cold room, thyroid disorders, and infections. It can also vary with where it is measured and the accuracy and type of thermometer used.

The bodies of older adults do not control body temperature as well as those of younger adults.

In warm environments, heat is lost through perspiration. This keeps body temperature normal. A hot environment can cause a dangerous increase in body temperature in older adults. On the other hand, an older adult may be very ill without having a fever.

In cold environments, the body controls loss of heat by limiting blood flow to the arms and legs. The control of this process works less well in older adults. Older adults need to be careful about spending a lot of time in cold environments.

Pulse

Your pulse rate is a count of the number of times your heart beats in a minute. The pulse is usually easiest to feel at the wrist (radial pulse) or at the neck (carotid pulse). A pulse can also be felt in the temple area of the face, at the bend of the arms, in the groin, behind the knees, inside the ankles, and on top of the feet.

A resting adult pulse should be between 60 and 100 beats per minute. People who are very physically fit may have a normal pulse less than 60.

Pulse rates can increase with infections, anxiety, stress, surprise, caffeine, exercise, pain, thyroid disorders, certain heart conditions, anemia, shock, and other conditions. Some medicines (such as beta blockers and digoxin) can cause a slowed pulse. If you take these medicines, check your pulse every day to be sure it is not routinely less than 60 beats per minute.

Your heartbeat should be regular, without any missing or closely spaced beats. If you have lost a lot of blood or are going into shock, you will have a rapid and weak pulse that is hard to feel. Hearts that are working very hard may produce an unusually strong pulse beat.

Respiration

To check your respiration rate, count the number of times you breathe in and out in a minute. Your rate of breathing can vary widely during the day. Breathing is usually a bit slower during sleep. The best time to check your respiration rate is when you are resting.

The normal adult rate is 12 to 20 breaths per minute. Many conditions can quickly change that number, such as exercise, anxiety, laughter, spasms of coughing, and anger. Pneumonia, surgery, anesthesia, and narcotics can also change your rate of breathing.

Breathing that is unusually slow or fast can indicate a serious condition.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is a measurement of the force of blood on the walls of your arteries. The arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Normal blood pressure can be as high as 120/80 ("120 over 80") but blood pressure can rise and fall with exercise, rest, or emotions. The pressures are measured in millimeters of mercury. The upper number (120) is the pressure when the heart pushes blood out to the rest of the body (systolic pressure). The bottom number (80) is the pressure when the heart rests between beats (diastolic pressure).

Healthy blood pressure is less than 120/80.
Pre-high blood pressure is from 120/80 to 139/89.
Stage I high blood pressure ranges from 140/90 to 159/99.
Stage II high blood pressure is over 160/100.

High blood pressure is a very common problem. The longer you have high blood pressure and the higher it is, the more likely it is you will develop problems such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, or a stroke. Low blood pressure is uncommon. Talk with your health care provider about what your blood pressure should be.

Should I check my own vital signs?

Checking your vital signs can help you and your health care provider by alerting you to health problems. Here are some examples of things you can do:

Buy a good quality, home digital thermometer. That way, you can get accurate information about whether you have a fever.
Check your pulse if you feel ill, have a fever, feel your heart racing, or take medicines that affect the speed of your heart. Use your index and middle fingers. If you don't know how to check your pulse, ask your health care provider to teach you.
One high blood pressure reading is usually not as important as trends in the blood pressure readings. Keep track every time your blood pressure is taken: date, time, BP reading, where it was taken (at home, the drug store, the clinic), and how it was taken. Talk to your health care provider about how to lower your blood pressure if it keeps being too high.
You usually do not need to check your breathing rate unless your health care provider recommends that you do so.

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

HIA File GEN4436F.HTM Release 9.0/2006