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VITAL SIGNS

VITAL SIGNS. Blood Pressure. Definition: the pressure the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries. Hypertension = HIGH blood pressure Hypotension = LOW blood pressure. Blood Pressure.

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VITAL SIGNS

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  1. VITAL SIGNS

  2. Blood Pressure • Definition: the pressure the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries. • Hypertension = HIGH blood pressure • Hypotension = LOW blood pressure

  3. Blood Pressure • Systole: the contraction phase, corresponds to the actual beat of the heart, and is the period of GREATEST pressure. Systole is the TOP number • Diastole: the relaxation phase, corresponds to the filling action of the heart, and is the period of LEAST pressure. Diastole is the BOTTOM number.

  4. Pulse Pressure • Definition: the difference between the systolic and diastolic readings. • Normal pulse pressure is 40 • > 50 or < 30 is considered abnormal • General rule of thumb is that pulse pressure should be about one third of the systolic pressure.

  5. Blood Pressure • Measured in millimeters of Mercury, or as it is written mm/Hg. • Use a sphygmomanometer, and a stethoscope. • Written as a fraction 120/80, where the systolic is 120 and diastolic is 80.

  6. 1. Placement of cuff: brachial artery (just above the elbow 2. Close valve 3. Inflate bladder with bulb 4. SLOWLY release the valve 5. Listen…1st sound, and last sound… REMEMBER… 100 - 140 60 - 90 BLOOD PRESSURES..technique

  7. Sounds • 1st sound : Systole= heart @ work • (contracting) • Last Sound: Diastole = heart @ rest • ( relaxing)

  8. Apical= stethoscope for 1 minute… Radial= wrist Carotid= neck REMEMBER 60-90=nml, Adults 90-160=nml, infants Pulses

  9. Pulses • Characteristics: • Rhythm: refers to the regularity of the pulse (regular or irregular) • Rate: the number of beats per minute • Volume: refers to the force or strength of the pulse: normal, bounding, weak, thready (barely perceivable)

  10. Pulses Tachycardia: > 100 beats per minute Bradycardia: < 60 beats per minute Exception: many athletes normally have heart rates < 60 because their heart is in better shape.

  11. Pulses • Pulse deficit: The difference between the apical pulse and the radial pulse. • Pulse deficit can indicate certain heart conditions, that will be diagnosed by further testing.

  12. Respirations • Measurement of breathing • This is tricky, you must “fool” the patient by letting them think you are continuing to count heartbeats and at the same time watch the chest rise and fall. • Hyperventilation: excessively fast and deep respirations • Dyspnea: difficult or labored breathing

  13. Respirations..characteristics • Apnea: no breathing.. • Rales: noisy breathing • Crackles: Heard in the bases of the lungs..sounds like …(demo) • Respirations are: Normal, shallow or deep, regular or irregular • Cheyne Stokes: slow shallow breaths that increse in depth and frequency to be followed by a few shallow breaths and then apnea for >10 seconds.. This usually precedes death.

  14. Stethoscope One inhalation, one exhalation=1 resp. Count by watching the chest rise and fall DON’T TELL THE PATIENT! REMEMBER NORMAL= 12-20 breaths per minute. RESPIRATIONS

  15. Temperatures • Definition: the amount of heat the body generates under normal or stressed conditions. • Oral – under the tongue • Rectal – in the anus • Axillary – under the armpit

  16. RECTAL=99.6 AXILLIARY= 97.6 ORAL= 98.6 Shake down Thermometer Clean with alcohol. Place under tongue. For 3 minutes. Rectal & Axillary= 10 min. REMEMBER! TEMPERATURES

  17. THE END

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