Vital Signs

Cards (29)

  • Vital Signs - refers to measurement of the client’s body temperature (T), pulse (P) rate, respiratory (R) rate, and blood pressure (BP)
  • Sequence of measuring Vital Signs:
    1. Temperature
    2. Pulse Rate
    3. Respiration Rate
    4. Blood Pressure
  • Body Temperature - the heat of the body measured in degrees
  • Thermoregulation
    • Core Body Temperature
    • Surface Body Temperature
  • Thermoregulation
    Core Body Temperature - the temperature of the deep tissues of the body, such as the abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity. ; remains relatively constant. ; maintained within a range of 36.0oC (96.8oF) to 37.5oC (99.5oF). ; Core temperatures are measured at tympanic or rectal areas
  • Surface body temperature - is temperature of the skin, the subcutaneous tissue, and fat. • rises and falls in response to the environment. • measured at oral (sublingual) and axillary sites.
  • Hypothalamus - Thermoregulatory center of the body
  • Heat Balance - When the amount of heat produced by the body equals the amount of heat lost
  • Heat Production
    • Metabolism
    • Shivering
    • Piloerection
  • Heat Production
    Metabolism - primary source of heat in the body
  • Metabolism
    • Basal metabolic rate - rate of energy utilization in the body required to maintain essential activities such as breathing (decreases with age)
  • Metabolism
    • Muscle activity - exercise & shivering, increases the metabolic rate
  • Metabolism
    • Thyroxine output & epinephrine/norepinephrine - increase metabolic rate
  • Metabolism
    • Inflammation/Fever - increase metabolic rate.
  • Heat Production
    Shivering - response that increases the production of heat, is initiated by hypothalamus resulting to muscular tremors
  • Heat Production
    Piloerection (goosebumps) - reduces the size of the surface to minimize heat loss.
  • Heat Loss - The energy lost by the body due to the transfer of heat from the body to the surroundings.
  • Skin - the primary site of heat loss
  • Mechanisms of Heat Loss
    • Radiation
    • Conduction
    • Convection
    • Evaporation
  • Mechanisms of Heat Loss
    Convection - the dispersion of heat by air currents (a fan blows currents of air across the surface of a worm body)
  • Mechanisms of Heat Loss
    Evaporation - the conversion of liquid to a vapor (body fluid in the form of perspiration and insensible loss is vaporized from the skin)
  • Mechanisms of Heat Loss
    Conduction - Transfer of heat to another object of lower temp during direct contact (The body transfer heat to an ice pack, causing the ice to melt)
  • Mechanisms of Heat Loss
    Radiation - rom the surface of one object to the surface of another without contact (thru infrared rays) (The body gives off waves of heat from uncovered surfaces)
  • Regulation of Body Temperature
    • Shivering increases heat production.
    • Sweating is inhibited to decrease heat loss
    • Vasoconstriction decreases heat loss
  • Factors Affecting Body Temperature
    • Circadian Rhythms/Diurnal Variations
    • Age and Sex
    • Environmental Temperature
    • Stress
  • Factors Affecting Body Temperature
    • Circadian Rhythm/Diurnal Variation (LOWEST temp is reached during sleep between from 4am to 6am early morning) (PEAK elevation of body temp occurs in late afternoon, between 4pm and 6pm)
  • Factors Affecting Body Temperature
    • Age & Sex - both the very young & very old are more sensitive to changes in environmental temperature • >75 years, are at risk of hypothermia (temperatures below 36°C, or 96.8°F) • Women tend to have more fluctuations in body temperature than men because of the increase in PROGESTERONE secretion during ovulation as much as 0.3°C to 0.6°C (½ - 1 degree °F)
  • Factors Affecting Body Temperature
    Environmental Temperature
    • Hypothermia –low body temperature
    • Hyperthermia –high body temperature
  • Factors Affecting Body Temperature

    Stress –due to increase epi/norepi