Vital Signs || What Are Vital Signs? Normal Ranges & Why || They Matter How to Check Your Vital Signs at Home Like a Pro || The Science of Vital Signs: Heart Rate, Blood Pressure & More || 5 Vital Signs You Should Monitor for a Healthy Life

Vital Signs

Vital signs are essential measurements used to assess a patient's health status. 

The main four vital signs are:

1. Temperature (T)
2. Pulse (P)
3. Respiration (R)
4. Blood Pressure (BP)

Some healthcare settings also include:

     5. Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
     6. Pain Level

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1. Temperature (T)

Definition: Body temperature measures the balance between heat produced and heat lost by the body.

✅ Normal Range:

• Oral: 36.5°C – 37.5°C (97.7°F – 99.5°F)

• Rectal: 37.0°C – 38.1°C (98.6°F – 100.6°F)

• Axillary: 35.9°C – 36.9°C (96.7°F – 98.5°F)

• Tympanic (Ear): 36.8°C – 37.8°C (98.2°F – 100°F)

🔴 Abnormal Values:

• Hypothermia (<35°C or 95°F): Due to cold exposure, shock, or metabolic disorders.

• Hyperthermia (>38°C or 100.4°F): Due to infection, heat stroke, or inflammatory diseases.

✅ Assessment Methods:

• Oral (Most common)

• Rectal (Most accurate)

• Axillary (Least accurate)

• Tympanic (Common in children)

🔴 Important Facts:

• Fever (>38°C/100.4°F) → Infection, inflammation, or heat stroke.

• Hypothermia (<35°C/95°F) → Can cause confusion, slow heart rate, and death.

• Rectal & tympanic measure core temperature (most accurate).

🩺 Nursing Care:

• Fever → Give fluids, remove excess clothing, and use cooling blankets.

• Hyperthermia →  Use cooling blankets, give fluids, and administer antipyretics (e.g., paracetamol).

• Hypothermia → Use warm blankets and heated IV fluids if severe.

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2. Pulse (P) / Heart Rate

Definition: The pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.

✅ Normal Range:

• Adults: 60–100 bpm

• Children: 70–120 bpm

• Infants: 100–160 bpm

🔴 Important Facts:

• Tachycardia (>100 bpm): Fever, dehydration, stress, heart disease.

• Bradycardia (<60 bpm): Medications (beta-blockers), heart block, athletic conditioning.

• Irregular Pulse: May indicate arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) → Needs ECG.

✅ Pulse Sites:

• Radial (wrist) – Most common

• Carotid (neck) – Emergency situations

• Brachial (elbow) – Used for infants

• Femoral, Popliteal, Dorsalis Pedis – Used for circulation checks

✅ Assessment Techniques:

• Use index and middle finger (not the thumb).

• Count for 60 seconds or 30 sec x 2.

🩺 Nursing Care:

• Monitor for changes in rhythm (irregular pulse = possible heart condition).

• Treat underlying causes (e.g., dehydration, fever, medication).

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3. Respiration (R) 🫁

Definition: The number of breaths per minute (inhalation + exhalation).

✅ Normal Range:

• Adults: 12–20 breaths/min

• Children: 20–30 breaths/min

• Infants: 30–60 breaths/min

🔴 Abnormal Values:

• Tachypnea (>20 bpm): Due to fever, anxiety, or lung disease.

• Bradypnea (<12 bpm): Due to drug overdose, brain injury, or hypothermia.

• Apnea (No breathing): Can be life-threatening.

• Dyspnea (difficulty breathing): May need oxygen therapy.

• Cheyne-Stokes respiration: Abnormal breathing pattern seen in stroke or end-of-life patients.

✅ Assessment Techniques:

• Observe chest rise and fall discreetly to avoid altered breathing.

• Cyanosis (blue skin/lips/nails) = Dangerously low oxygen levels!
  
  
• Count for 30 sec x 2 for accuracy.

🩺 Nursing Care:

• Check for cyanosis (bluish skin) → Possible low oxygen levels.

• Give oxygen therapy if needed.

• Encourage deep breathing exercises for patients with respiratory distress.

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4. Blood Pressure (BP)

Definition: The force of blood against artery walls during heartbeats.

✅ Normal Range:

• Normal: 90/60 mmHg – 120/80 mmHg

• Pre-hypertension: 120/80 – 139/89 mmHg

• Hypertension (High BP): >140/90 mmHg (Increases stroke & heart attack risk!)

• Hypotension (Low BP): <90/60 mmHg (Can cause fainting, shock)

🔴 Abnormal Values:

• Hypertension (High BP) → Risk of stroke, heart attack.

• Hypotension (Low BP) → Can cause dizziness, shock.

✅ Assessment Techniques:

• Use sphygmomanometer (BP cuff).

• Ensure correct cuff size (too small = high BP reading, too large = low BP reading).

• Measure at heart level and let the patient rest 5 minutes before measurement.

🔴 Important Facts:

• Systolic (Top Number) = Pressure when the heart contracts.

• Diastolic (Bottom Number) = Pressure when the heart relaxes.

• White Coat Syndrome: Some patients have high BP only in medical settings due to anxiety.

🩺 Nursing Care:

• High BP → Monitor, reduce salt, encourage exercise, administer meds if needed.

• Low BP → Increase fluid intake, check for dehydration, monitor closely.

• Ensure correct cuff size (Too small = falsely high BP, Too large = falsely low BP).

• Take BP after 5 minutes of rest with arm at heart level.

• Recheck abnormal BP in both arms to confirm accuracy.

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5. Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)

Definition: Measures the oxygen level in the blood using a pulse oximeter.

✅ Normal Range:

• 95% – 100%

• <90% = Hypoxia (low oxygen levels, dangerous!)

🔴 Abnormal Values:

• Hypoxia (<90%) → Causes: Lung disease, airway obstruction, shock.

🔴 Important Facts:

• Low SpO₂ (<90%) → May indicate pneumonia, COPD, or respiratory failure.

• Nail polish, cold hands, or poor circulation can give false readings.

🩺 Nursing Care:

• Give oxygen therapy as prescribed.

• Monitor for signs of cyanosis (blue lips, nails).

• Encourage deep breathing and repositioning.

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6. Pain (The 5th Vital Sign)

Definition: Subjective feeling of discomfort, measured using a Pain Scale (0-10).

✅ Assessment Techniques:

• Numeric Scale (0-10): 0 = No pain, 10 = Worst pain.

• Wong-Baker Faces Scale: Used for children/non-verbal patients.

• PQRST Method:

• P – Provokes (What causes it?)

• Q – Quality (Sharp, dull, burning?)

• R – Radiates (Spreads anywhere?)

• S – Severity (Pain level 0-10?)

• T – Time (How long has it lasted?)

🔴 Important Facts:

• Pain can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-term).

• Untreated pain can lead to increased stress, slow healing, and depression.

🩺 Nursing Care:

• Administer pain medications (if prescribed).

• Use non-drug methods: Ice, heat, relaxation techniques.

• Monitor pain regularly and report changes.

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Final Summary

Vital Sign	Normal Range (Adults)	Key Points
Temperature	36.5–37.5°C (97.7–99.5°F)	Fever (>38°C) or Hypothermia (<35°C)
Pulse	60–100 bpm	Check for Tachycardia (>100) or Bradycardia (<60)
Respiration	12–20 breaths/min	Watch for difficulty breathing
Blood Pressure	90/60 – 120/80 mmHg	Monitor for Hypertension or Hypotension
Oxygen Saturation	95%–100%	Below 90% is dangerous!
Pain	0–10 scale	Use PQRST method to assess

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Final Important Facts to Remember 💡

✅ Vital signs should be checked regularly for early detection of health issues.

✅ ALWAYS compare new readings to the patient's baseline values.

✅ Vital sign abnormalities require quick action (report critical values immediately!).

✅ Pain should never be ignored—it is a subjective but essential indicator of patient distress.

✅ Always reassess after interventions (medications, oxygen, fluids, etc.).