Saturday, May 10, 2008
Vital signs
Beginning with the first laboratory session and continuing for approximately three weeks, all the students in my (Human Anatomy and Physiology) class and I used the first fifteen minutes of the laboratory meeting to measure each other’s vital signs. We each had a partner, and took turns in measuring. Vital signs include the measuring of blood pressure, taking temperature, checking the respiration, and checking the pulse rate. This project is based on data collected approximately once a week (vital signs measured), along with research obtained from the Laboratory Manual and various health web sites. Checking vitals can provide critical information about a person’s state of health, and can also identify the existence of an acute medical condition. The more deranged the vital signs, the sicker the patient (Marieb,2003).
Blood pressure is the force blood exerts against the wall of a blood vessel. It is possible to conduct investigations of a few phenomena such as pulse, heart sounds, blood pressure, all of which reflect the heart in action and the function of blood vessels. In a healthy heart, the two atria contract simultaneously. As they begin to relax, a simultaneous contraction of the ventricles occurs. However, according to general usage, the terms “systole” and “diastole” refer to events of ventricular contraction and relaxation (Marieb,2003). ).
If blood pressure is too great, it can damage your blood vessels and restrict flow to your vital organs. In time, untreated high blood pressure may result in eye and kidney damage, stroke, heart failure and other serious problems. On the other side of the coin, low blood pressure (less than 90/60 mm Hg) in healthy people (especially athletes, is a sign of good cardiovascular health. Hypotension, is the medical term for low blood pressure. However, low blood pressure can be a signal of an underlying problem, especially in the elderly. Low blood pressure can cause inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Chronic low blood pressure is almost never serious, but it can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. Sudden drops in blood pressure can be life threatening. Postural hypotension is considered to be a failure of the autonomic nervous system-the part of the brain that controls involuntary vital actions, such as heartbeat. (http://www.healthcentral.com/)
Blood pressure is reported in millimeter of mercury (mm Hg) with the systolic pressure appearing first, (120/80 mm Hg translates to 120 over 80). Normal blood pressure varies from one person to another, but on a regular basis normal (adult) blood pressure is between 100/60 mm Hg and 140/90 mm Hg. Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff). It consists of an inflatable cuff, with an attached pressure gauge. Cuff is placed around the arm and inflated to a pressure higher than systolic pressure to occlude circulation to the forearm. As cuff pressure is gradually released, the examiner listens with a stethoscope for sounds called the “sounds of Korotkoff”, which indicate the resumption of blood flow into the forearm. The stethoscope is placed on the brachial artery on the arm (See attached Illustration 1A). The pressure at which the first soft tapping starts can be recorded as the systolic pressure. The pressure at which the sounds disappear is recorded as the diastolic pressure (Marieb,2003).
On the 1st day of the vital signs measuring, I was not present. Therefore, on the graphs, tables, and on this essay, you will notice that everything starts form the 2nd day. For the purpose of this essay, I will call the 2nd day the 1st day. If you glance on the blood pressure chart (Blood pressure 1B, 2B) you’ll notice that on the 1st day, my blood pressure was 104/70 mm Hg, on the 2nd day it was 102/69 mm Hg, and on the 3rd day it was 98/72 mm Hg. I normally have blood pressure a bit lower than normal. On the other hand, on the 1st and 2nd day it was within the “normal” range (100/60 mm Hg and 140/90 mm Hg = normal), on the 3rd day it was within my “normal” range (a bit low). Saori Okaki (my partner) had a bit of a difference in her results. On the 1st day her blood pressure was 120/64 mm Hg, on the 2nd day 120/60 mm Hg, and on the 3rd day also 120/60 mm Hg. Her results were actually within the norm category, and rather consistent, with the exception of the first day, where her diastolic pressure was 4 mm Hg higher.
The term pulse refers to the alternating surges of pressure (expansion and than recoil) in an artery that occur with each contraction and relaxation of the left ventricle. Normally, the pulse rate (pressure surges per minute) equals the heart rate. Which can be translated to, pulse is the measurement of the number of heartbeats per minute. Pulse is measured in beats per minute (beats/min.). The pulse averages 70 to 79 beats per minute in the resting stage. Normal pulse ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Pulse is measured (with the index finger along with the middle finger) at the radial artery, at the lateral aspect of the wrist, above the thumb (see attached Illustration 2A). Newborn infants have an average pulse of 100 to 160 beats per minute; children over the age of ten to adults have an average pulse of 60-100 beats per minute; and athletes have an average pulse of 40-60 beats per minute (http://www.healthcentral.com/).
Tachycardia is when a resting heart (or pulse) is consistently high, and it is associated with high blood pressure, or fluid overload. Tachycardia can occur with congestive heart failure, acute renal failure or chronic renal failure. Bradycardia is when the pulse falls below the normal values. Bradycardia can also occur secondary to certain illnesses, such as decreased thyroid function, certain gastrointestinal disorders, jaundice, or with the abuse of certain drugs. It is also common in elderly people and infants with certain types of congenial heart disease. (http://www.healthcentral.com/)
If you take a look at the pulse chart (Pulse 1C, 2C) you’ll notice that on the 1st day my pulse was 80 beats/min, on the 2nd day it was 75 beats/min, and on the 3rd day it was 83 beats/min. If normal pulse is considered to be between 60 and 100 beats/min, than I can conclude that I have a healthy heart rate. Saori Okaki had 86 beats/min on the 1st day, 76 beats per minute on the second day, and 92 beats per minute on the third day. On the 3rd day I had asked her why her pulse is a bit higher than usual, and she replied that she had been rushing to class just before, so her heart was beating faster than usual. Both of our pulses did not turn out to be extremely consistent, nevertheless within the healthy norm.
Respiration is reported as breaths per minute. As air flows in and out of the respiratory tree, it produces two characteristic sounds that can be picked up by a stethoscope. The bronchial sounds are produced by air rushing through the large respiratory passageway (the trachea and the bronchi), resembling the sound of a crackle. The second type, vesicular breathing sounds, results from air filling the alveolar sacs and it resembles the sound of a rustling or a muffled breeze. Respiration is measured by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope at the triangle of auscultation (small depressed area of the back, where the muscles fail to cover the rib cage). You can also hear respiration by placing the stethoscope on the throat, just below the larynx, and the chest area. Normal respiration is between 15 and 20 breaths/minute. A deceased respiratory tissue, mucus (cigarette smokers usually have mucus in their respiratory), or pus produces abnormal chest sounds such as rales and wheezing.
If you take a look at the respiration chart (Respiration 1D, 2D) you’ll detect that on the 1st day my respiration was 24 breaths/minute, on the 2nd day it was 27 breaths/minute, on the 3rd day the respiration was 22 breaths/minute (normal respiration rate is between 15-20). My partner (Saori Okaki), on the other hand, had 27 beats per minute on the 1st day, 28 beats/minute on the 2nd day, and 20 beats per minute on the third day.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people who smoke cigarettes suffer symptoms such as increase and changes in the heart rate (respiration), and much, much more. Some of the risks associated with smoking are chronic bronchitis, heart decease and stroke (www.Health.org/gov). Consequently, based on this obtained information, I hypothesized that due to the fact that my lab partner and I are both smokers, (and not very proud of it) our respiratory rates are higher than the normal rate.
Last vital sign that I will talk about is body temperature. The normal temperature of a healthy, resting adult is at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees Celsius. Anything above these amounts is considered to be high temperature or fever. A thermometer is used to measure body temperature. Thermometer is filled with mercury. Mercury in the tube rises when expanded by an increase in body temperature. Body temperature can vary in adults. However, a woman’s menstrual cycle can elevate temperature by one degree or more. A person’s body temperature is usually highest in the evening, raised by physical activity, strong emotion, eating, heavy clothing, medications, high room temperature and high humidity. Most bacteria and viruses that can cause infections flourish at a temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Fever is not an illness. It is an important part of the body’s defense against infection. While a fever signals to us that a battle is going on inside the body, the fever is fighting for the person, not against (www.Health.org/gov).
If you take a glance at the temperature chart (Temperature 1E, 2E), you’ll notice that on the 1st day my temperature was at 36.5 degrees Celsius, on the 2nd day it was 37 degrees Celsius, on the third day it was 37 degrees Celsius. These are considered normal body temperatures, on all three days. On the other hand, Saori Okaki had a bit of a difference in her temperature reading, which was clearly performed by me. On the first and second day, her body temperature was normal (36 degrees Celsius on 1st day, and 36 degrees Celsius on the 2nd day). However, on the 3rd day her body temperature was 37.1 degrees Celsius. So I had asked her if she was feeling all right, she replied that she was feeling fine and also told me that she doesn’t think she’s sick. Later on during the lab she inform me (girl talk) that she had gotten her menstruation, and she wasn’t feeling that great. That day I didn’t think much of it. However, after doing research on temperature, I hypothesized that she must have had higher temperature due to her menstruation.
Most people at one time or another have had their vitals checked by either a nurse or a doctor, including myself. After doing research and reading up on it, I now realize how important vital sign values are. They are essential for proper diagnosis and treatment of various illnesses, from minor to major, as they provide critical information. www.PassNurseExams.com
Blood pressure is the force blood exerts against the wall of a blood vessel. It is possible to conduct investigations of a few phenomena such as pulse, heart sounds, blood pressure, all of which reflect the heart in action and the function of blood vessels. In a healthy heart, the two atria contract simultaneously. As they begin to relax, a simultaneous contraction of the ventricles occurs. However, according to general usage, the terms “systole” and “diastole” refer to events of ventricular contraction and relaxation (Marieb,2003). ).
If blood pressure is too great, it can damage your blood vessels and restrict flow to your vital organs. In time, untreated high blood pressure may result in eye and kidney damage, stroke, heart failure and other serious problems. On the other side of the coin, low blood pressure (less than 90/60 mm Hg) in healthy people (especially athletes, is a sign of good cardiovascular health. Hypotension, is the medical term for low blood pressure. However, low blood pressure can be a signal of an underlying problem, especially in the elderly. Low blood pressure can cause inadequate blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Chronic low blood pressure is almost never serious, but it can lead to dizziness or lightheadedness. Sudden drops in blood pressure can be life threatening. Postural hypotension is considered to be a failure of the autonomic nervous system-the part of the brain that controls involuntary vital actions, such as heartbeat. (http://www.healthcentral.com/)
Blood pressure is reported in millimeter of mercury (mm Hg) with the systolic pressure appearing first, (120/80 mm Hg translates to 120 over 80). Normal blood pressure varies from one person to another, but on a regular basis normal (adult) blood pressure is between 100/60 mm Hg and 140/90 mm Hg. Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff). It consists of an inflatable cuff, with an attached pressure gauge. Cuff is placed around the arm and inflated to a pressure higher than systolic pressure to occlude circulation to the forearm. As cuff pressure is gradually released, the examiner listens with a stethoscope for sounds called the “sounds of Korotkoff”, which indicate the resumption of blood flow into the forearm. The stethoscope is placed on the brachial artery on the arm (See attached Illustration 1A). The pressure at which the first soft tapping starts can be recorded as the systolic pressure. The pressure at which the sounds disappear is recorded as the diastolic pressure (Marieb,2003).
On the 1st day of the vital signs measuring, I was not present. Therefore, on the graphs, tables, and on this essay, you will notice that everything starts form the 2nd day. For the purpose of this essay, I will call the 2nd day the 1st day. If you glance on the blood pressure chart (Blood pressure 1B, 2B) you’ll notice that on the 1st day, my blood pressure was 104/70 mm Hg, on the 2nd day it was 102/69 mm Hg, and on the 3rd day it was 98/72 mm Hg. I normally have blood pressure a bit lower than normal. On the other hand, on the 1st and 2nd day it was within the “normal” range (100/60 mm Hg and 140/90 mm Hg = normal), on the 3rd day it was within my “normal” range (a bit low). Saori Okaki (my partner) had a bit of a difference in her results. On the 1st day her blood pressure was 120/64 mm Hg, on the 2nd day 120/60 mm Hg, and on the 3rd day also 120/60 mm Hg. Her results were actually within the norm category, and rather consistent, with the exception of the first day, where her diastolic pressure was 4 mm Hg higher.
The term pulse refers to the alternating surges of pressure (expansion and than recoil) in an artery that occur with each contraction and relaxation of the left ventricle. Normally, the pulse rate (pressure surges per minute) equals the heart rate. Which can be translated to, pulse is the measurement of the number of heartbeats per minute. Pulse is measured in beats per minute (beats/min.). The pulse averages 70 to 79 beats per minute in the resting stage. Normal pulse ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Pulse is measured (with the index finger along with the middle finger) at the radial artery, at the lateral aspect of the wrist, above the thumb (see attached Illustration 2A). Newborn infants have an average pulse of 100 to 160 beats per minute; children over the age of ten to adults have an average pulse of 60-100 beats per minute; and athletes have an average pulse of 40-60 beats per minute (http://www.healthcentral.com/).
Tachycardia is when a resting heart (or pulse) is consistently high, and it is associated with high blood pressure, or fluid overload. Tachycardia can occur with congestive heart failure, acute renal failure or chronic renal failure. Bradycardia is when the pulse falls below the normal values. Bradycardia can also occur secondary to certain illnesses, such as decreased thyroid function, certain gastrointestinal disorders, jaundice, or with the abuse of certain drugs. It is also common in elderly people and infants with certain types of congenial heart disease. (http://www.healthcentral.com/)
If you take a look at the pulse chart (Pulse 1C, 2C) you’ll notice that on the 1st day my pulse was 80 beats/min, on the 2nd day it was 75 beats/min, and on the 3rd day it was 83 beats/min. If normal pulse is considered to be between 60 and 100 beats/min, than I can conclude that I have a healthy heart rate. Saori Okaki had 86 beats/min on the 1st day, 76 beats per minute on the second day, and 92 beats per minute on the third day. On the 3rd day I had asked her why her pulse is a bit higher than usual, and she replied that she had been rushing to class just before, so her heart was beating faster than usual. Both of our pulses did not turn out to be extremely consistent, nevertheless within the healthy norm.
Respiration is reported as breaths per minute. As air flows in and out of the respiratory tree, it produces two characteristic sounds that can be picked up by a stethoscope. The bronchial sounds are produced by air rushing through the large respiratory passageway (the trachea and the bronchi), resembling the sound of a crackle. The second type, vesicular breathing sounds, results from air filling the alveolar sacs and it resembles the sound of a rustling or a muffled breeze. Respiration is measured by placing the diaphragm of the stethoscope at the triangle of auscultation (small depressed area of the back, where the muscles fail to cover the rib cage). You can also hear respiration by placing the stethoscope on the throat, just below the larynx, and the chest area. Normal respiration is between 15 and 20 breaths/minute. A deceased respiratory tissue, mucus (cigarette smokers usually have mucus in their respiratory), or pus produces abnormal chest sounds such as rales and wheezing.
If you take a look at the respiration chart (Respiration 1D, 2D) you’ll detect that on the 1st day my respiration was 24 breaths/minute, on the 2nd day it was 27 breaths/minute, on the 3rd day the respiration was 22 breaths/minute (normal respiration rate is between 15-20). My partner (Saori Okaki), on the other hand, had 27 beats per minute on the 1st day, 28 beats/minute on the 2nd day, and 20 beats per minute on the third day.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, people who smoke cigarettes suffer symptoms such as increase and changes in the heart rate (respiration), and much, much more. Some of the risks associated with smoking are chronic bronchitis, heart decease and stroke (www.Health.org/gov). Consequently, based on this obtained information, I hypothesized that due to the fact that my lab partner and I are both smokers, (and not very proud of it) our respiratory rates are higher than the normal rate.
Last vital sign that I will talk about is body temperature. The normal temperature of a healthy, resting adult is at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees Celsius. Anything above these amounts is considered to be high temperature or fever. A thermometer is used to measure body temperature. Thermometer is filled with mercury. Mercury in the tube rises when expanded by an increase in body temperature. Body temperature can vary in adults. However, a woman’s menstrual cycle can elevate temperature by one degree or more. A person’s body temperature is usually highest in the evening, raised by physical activity, strong emotion, eating, heavy clothing, medications, high room temperature and high humidity. Most bacteria and viruses that can cause infections flourish at a temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Fever is not an illness. It is an important part of the body’s defense against infection. While a fever signals to us that a battle is going on inside the body, the fever is fighting for the person, not against (www.Health.org/gov).
If you take a glance at the temperature chart (Temperature 1E, 2E), you’ll notice that on the 1st day my temperature was at 36.5 degrees Celsius, on the 2nd day it was 37 degrees Celsius, on the third day it was 37 degrees Celsius. These are considered normal body temperatures, on all three days. On the other hand, Saori Okaki had a bit of a difference in her temperature reading, which was clearly performed by me. On the first and second day, her body temperature was normal (36 degrees Celsius on 1st day, and 36 degrees Celsius on the 2nd day). However, on the 3rd day her body temperature was 37.1 degrees Celsius. So I had asked her if she was feeling all right, she replied that she was feeling fine and also told me that she doesn’t think she’s sick. Later on during the lab she inform me (girl talk) that she had gotten her menstruation, and she wasn’t feeling that great. That day I didn’t think much of it. However, after doing research on temperature, I hypothesized that she must have had higher temperature due to her menstruation.
Most people at one time or another have had their vitals checked by either a nurse or a doctor, including myself. After doing research and reading up on it, I now realize how important vital sign values are. They are essential for proper diagnosis and treatment of various illnesses, from minor to major, as they provide critical information. www.PassNurseExams.com
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