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Learn how to measure and interpret vital signs, which are indicators of the body's basic functions. Find out what is normal and abnormal for each vital sign and how to monitor them for health problems.
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- Preparing for an Emergency
- Overview
- What are vital signs?
- What is heart rate?
- What is respiratory rate?
- What is body temperature?
- What is oxygen saturation?
- What is blood pressure?
- What are the normal ranges of vital signs in children?
- Takeaway
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Doctors measure vital signs, like blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature, to understand how a body is functioning and to detect and monitor health issues.
Vital signs are measurements of the body’s basic functions. The vital signs doctors typically measure and monitor are:
•body temperature
•heart rate (the rate of your heartbeat)
•respiratory rate (rate of breathing)
•blood pressure
Measuring vital signs is usually the first step in almost every medical evaluation. Doctors use these measurements to better understand how a person’s body is functioning and to detect possible health concerns.
By monitoring a person’s vital signs consistently, such as at every health checkup, a doctor can establish a baseline for that person. Vital signs can then act as early warning flags. For example, a change in a person’s baseline measurements might point to an underlying illness or heart issue that has not yet been diagnosed.
Your heart rate, or pulse, measures the number of times your heart beats each minute. A heart rate can help a doctor understand your heart rhythm and how strong your pulse is.
The normal heart rate for a healthy adult ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The rate can change depending on the circumstances. For example, it may increase when you’re exercising and decrease when taking certain medications. Athletes often have lower heart rates than nonathletes.
A respiratory rate is the number of breaths a person takes each minute. The rate is usually measured when a person is resting rather than under duress or in a stressful situation. However, in emergencies, healthcare teams often measure the respiratory rate to monitor what’s happening in the body at that moment.
Like other vital signs, a respiratory rate may increase with fever, illness, or other medical conditions or circumstances.
A normal body temperature can vary depending on your sex assigned at birth, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and, in people who menstruate, the stage of the menstrual cycle.
For adults, normal body temperatures can range from 97.8°F to 99°F (36.5°C to 37.2°C).
A body temperature can be measured in any of the following ways:
•Orally: Either a glass thermometer or a digital thermometer that uses an electronic probe can measure body temperature from the mouth.
•Rectally: Temperatures taken rectally using a glass or digital thermometer tend to be a bit higher than when taken by mouth.
•Axillary: Temperatures taken under the arm using a glass or digital thermometer tend to be a bit lower than temperatures taken by mouth.
Oxygen saturation is the amount of oxygen in your blood. Because the body’s organs and tissues need oxygen to work, oxygen must travel through the bloodstream to help support the functions of the body.
For most healthy adults, a normal oxygen saturation level is between 95% and 100%. Anything below 95% means your body isn’t receiving enough oxygen and needs medical attention.
You can check your oxygen saturation rate at home with a device called a pulse oximeter. You can purchase a pulse oximeter at most stores that carry health-related items.
To use, simply insert your fingertip into the small device. You will feel a slight pressure, but it does not squeeze your fingertip or cause pain. Most devices will beep or stop flashing when the reading is complete.
If you have any questions, you can talk with a healthcare professional about how to use your pulse oximeter and understand the readings. Some factors can affect accuracy, such as:
•darker skin tones
Blood pressure is the force used to move blood through the cardiovascular system. With every heartbeat, blood is pumped into the arteries. Pressure is at its highest when the heart contracts and at its lowest when the heart relaxes.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) with two numbers:
•Systolic pressure (top number): when the heart contracts
•Diastolic pressure (bottom number): when the heart relaxes
Healthcare professionals generally use four categories to define blood pressure readings in adults:
•Healthy: The systolic number is 120 or less, and the diastolic number is 80 or less.
Just like adults, vital signs for children include heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood pressure. Knowing the normal ranges of vital signs for your child can help you notice problems or relieve concerns you may have if your child is not feeling well.
The table below lists normal vital signs in infants, children, and teenagers:
Vital signs measure the body’s basic functions. These include your temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
At almost every healthcare appointment, a doctor, nurse, or another member of the healthcare team will take your vital signs and record them.
Vital signs are measurements of the body’s basic functions, such as heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure. Learn how to measure vital signs, what factors affect them, and what they can tell us about our health.
Vital signs are a group of medical signs that indicate the status of the body's vital functions, such as temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure. Learn how to measure, record, and interpret vital signs, and what factors affect their normal ranges and variations.
- Body Temperature. Body temperature can vary throughout the day, even for a person who is healthy. Typically, it’s lowest upon awakening and higher later in the day.
- Respiration Rate. Respiration rate refers to the number of breaths taken per minute while at rest. It’s one of the easiest vital signs to measure, as you only need a clock or timer.
- Pulse (Heart Rate) A person’s pulse is created by the surge of blood through the arteries when the heart beats. Pulse rate is a measurement of how many times per minute this surge can be detected.
- Blood Pressure. Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries every time the heart beats. Blood pressure readings contain two numbers (e.g., 120/80 millimeters of mercury, or mmHg)
What are vital signs? Vital signs measure your body’s basic functions. The measurements check your general physical health. They’re the first step of any medical exam or evaluation. Vital signs are important because they give a healthcare provider clues about any underlying conditions that affect your health or show your progress toward ...
What are vital signs? Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The 4 main vital signs routinely checked by healthcare providers include: Body temperature. Pulse rate. Breathing rate (respiration) Blood pressure . Vital signs help detect or monitor medical problems.
May 20, 2024 · Vital signs measure the body’s most essential functions, such as heart rate, temperature, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation. Learn how to measure and interpret vital signs, what normal levels are, and what factors can affect them.
