Chapter 13 Vital signs

Vital Signs

Vital = alive Not necessarily healthy

You can be alive and very unhealthy

Signs = actions that indicate someone is alive Pulse Respirations Body temperature Blood pressure

Baseline vital signs 1st set of vitals signs Compare future readings

to. Indicates you health has

gotten Better Poorer

Pulse

How fast the heart beats in a specific amount of time Radial artery (wrist) Use fingers, not thumb Count the beats for

1 minute or 30 seconds and X 2

Pulse

80 bpm Average pulse rate

60 – 90 bpm is average pulse range

Arrhythmia Any type of irregular

heart beat

Tachycardia Fast resting heart rate

Bradycardia Slow resting heart rate

Murmur Skipping a beat Extra beat

Respirations

How many breaths are taken in a specific amount of time.

1 inhalation + 1 exhalation = 1 respiration

15 rpm average rate 12 -18 average range

Tachypnea Faster than normal

resting respiration rate > 20 rpm

Bradypnea Slower than normal

resting respiration rate < 10 rpm

Body Temperature

The temperature of the body at rest. Orally Ear canal Forehead Rectal

Not used a lot in dentistry. Whewww….

Normal average body temperature.

98.6 ° Fahrenheit 37° Celsius

Normal body temperature range.

96.0 – 99.5° Fahrenheit 35.5 – 37.5° Celsius

Body temperature

Hypothermic Pt. has a lower than

normal body temperature.

Overexposure to cold.

Overdose of antipyretic medication

Hyperthermic Pt. has a ‘fever’ Higher than normal

body temperature Antipyretic

Anything that helps reduce a fever

Aspirin Cold packs

Blood pressure

Indication of Pt.’s cardiovascular health. Hypertension

High blood pressure Hypotension

Low blood pressure Average 120 80 Range 100-140 60-90Recorded as mm Hg

Systolic pressure Pressure w/ heart

contracts / beats Top / Upper #

Diastolic Pressure w/ heart is

relaxed / between beats

Bottom / lower #

Blood pressure

Sphygmomanometer Aka blood pressure cuffused to measure blood pressure

Compresses brachial artery Used w/ a stethoscope to listen for heart

sounds.

Blood pressure

Done after 5 min of pt. being relaxed

Cuff place high on arm Left arm preferred Closer to heart

Stethoscope is place over brachial artery Antecubital space

Fold in arm above elbow

Blood pressure

Cuff is inflated 20 mm Hg above average

Cuff is slowly deflated 1st heart beat sound

Systolic # Last heart beat sound

diastolic # Release all air from cuff +

remove from arm. Record readings

Putting them all together

1. Place thermometer in mouth.(1 min.)2. Take pulse first 30 sec.3. Take respirations second 30 sec.

1. Pretend to continue to take pulse

4. Take blood pressure5. Record all vital signs in pt. chart6. All should be completed within 2 – 3 min.

Conclusion

Your ability to take accurate vital signs is very important.

Dr’s make Tx and Rx decisions based on vital signs.

You should be able to explain their importance to your patients and how they relate to their over all health.

Any questions??????