Vital Signs - Cleveland Clinic

There are four main vital signs: body temperature, blood pressure, pulse and breathing rate. Normal ranges for these signs vary by age, sex, ... ComingtoaClevelandCliniclocation?Visitation,maskrequirementsandCOVID-19information Home / HealthLibrary / Articles VitalSigns Therearefourmainvitalsigns:bodytemperature,bloodpressure,pulseandbreathingrate.Normalrangesforthesesignsvarybyage,sex,weightandotherfactors. Questions216.444.2538 FindaPrimaryCareProvider RequestanAppointment ScheduleAppointmentinMyChart Whatarevitalsigns? Vitalsignsareusedtomeasurethebody'sbasicfunctions.Thesemeasurementsaretakentohelpassessthegeneralphysicalhealthofaperson,givecluestopossiblediseasesandshowprogresstowardrecovery.Thenormalrangesforaperson'svitalsignsvarywithage,weight,genderandoverallhealth. Therearefourmainvitalsigns:bodytemperature,bloodpressure,pulse(heartrate),andbreathingrate. Bodytemperature:Theaveragebodytemperatureis98.6ºFahrenheit,butnormaltemperatureforahealthypersoncanrangebetween97.8ºto99.1ºFahrenheitorslightlyhigher.Bodytemperatureismeasuredusingathermometerinsertedintothemouth,anus,orplacedunderthearmpit.Bodytemperaturecanalsobemeasuredbyaspecialthermometerinsertedintotheearcanal.Anytemperaturethatishigherthanaperson'saveragebodytemperatureisconsideredafever.Adropinbodytemperaturebelow95ºFahrenheitisdefinedashypothermia.Keepinmindthattemperaturecanvaryduetofactorsotherthanillnessorinfection.Stress,dehydration,exercise,beinginahotorcoldenvironment,drinkingahotorcoldbeverageandthyroiddisorderscaninfluencebodytemperature.Becauseolderadultsdonotcontrolbodytemperatureaswellasyoungeradults,olderadultsmaybeillwithouteverdisplayingsignsofafever. Bloodpressure:Bloodpressureisthemeasurementofthepressureorforceofbloodagainstthewallsofyourarteries.Bloodpressureiswrittenastwonumbers,suchas120/80millimetersofmercury(mmHg).Thefirstnumberiscalledthesystolicpressureandmeasuresthepressureinthearterieswhentheheartbeatsandpushesbloodouttothebody.Thesecondnumberiscalledthediastolicpressureandmeasuresthepressureinthearterieswhentheheartrestsbetweenbeats. Healthybloodpressureforanadult,relaxedatrest,isconsideredtobeareadinglessthan120/80mmHg.Asystolicpressureof120-139oradiastolicpressureof80-89isconsidered"prehypertension"andshouldbecloselymonitored.Hypertension(highbloodpressure)isconsideredtobeareadingof140/90mmHgorhigher.Bloodpressurethatremainshighforanextendedperiodoftimecanresultinsuchhealthproblemsasatherosclerosis(hardeningofthearteries),heartfailureandstroke. Somefactorsthatcaninfluenceabloodpressurereadinginclude: Stress Smoking Coldtemperatures Exercise Fullstomach Fullbladder Caffeine,alcoholconsumption Certainmedicines Gainingorlosingweight Saltintake Ifyouaretakingyourbloodpressure,bewareofthesefactorswhenreadingyourmeasurements.Ifsomeoneelseistakingyourbloodpressure,besuretotellhimorherofanythesepossiblecausesyoumayhaveforhighbloodpressure.Alsoknowthatthebloodpressurestationsatsomedrugstoresandgrocerystoresarenotconsideredaccuratemeasuresofyourbloodpressure.Hypotension(lowbloodpressure)isareadingof90/60mmHgorlower,whichcanbenormalforsomepeopleandnotacauseforconcern.However,ifyourlowbloodpressurecausessignsorsymptomssuchasdizziness,fainting,nausea,coldsweatsandblurredvision,talktoyourdoctortodiscoverifanotherconditionorillnessisbehindtheproblem. Pulse:Yourpulseisthenumberoftimesyourheartbeatsperminute.Pulseratesvaryfrompersontoperson.Yourpulseislowerwhenyouareatrestandincreaseswhenyouexercise(becausemoreoxygen-richbloodisneededbythebodywhenyouexercise).Anormalpulserateforahealthyadultatrestrangesfrom60to80beatsperminute.Womentendtohavefasterpulseratesthanmen.Yourpulsecanbemeasuredbyfirmlybutgentlypressingthefirstandsecondfingertipsagainstcertainpointsonthebody—mostcommonlyatthewristorneck(butcanalsobemeasuredatthebendofthearms,inthegroin,behindtheknees,insidetheankles,onthetopofthefeetoratthetempleareaoftheface)—thencountingthenumberofheartbeatsoveraperiodof60seconds.Afasterthanaveragepulsecanindicatesuchhealthproblemsasinfection,dehydration,stress,anxiety,athyroiddisorder,shock,anemiaorcertainheartconditions.Somemedications,especiallybetablockersanddigoxin,canslowyourpulse.Alowerheartrateisalsocommonforpeoplewhogetalotofexerciseorareathletic.Ifcheckingyourpulse,yourpulserateshouldnotberoutinelylessthan60beatsperminute.Thebeatsalsoshouldbeequallyspacedout,notexcessivelystrong(wouldindicateaheartthatisworkinghard),andnobeatsshouldbemissed. Respiratoryrate:Aperson'srespiratoryrateisthenumberofbreathsyoutakeperminute.Thenormalrespirationrateforanadultatrestis12to20breathsperminute.Arespirationrateunder12orover25breathsperminutewhilerestingisconsideredabnormal.Amongtheconditionsthatcanchangeanormalrespiratoryrateareasthma,anxiety,pneumonia,congestiveheartfailure,lungdisease,useofnarcoticsordrugoverdose. Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print Getuseful,helpfulandrelevanthealth+wellnessinformation enews ClevelandClinicisanon-profitacademicmedicalcenter.Advertisingonoursitehelpssupportourmission.Wedonotendorsenon-ClevelandClinicproductsorservices. Policy RelatedInstitutes&Services CommunityCare ClevelandClinicCommunityCareputspatientsfirstbyofferingcomprehensive,coordinated,personalizedhealthcare. ClevelandClinicisanon-profitacademicmedicalcenter.Advertisingonoursitehelpssupportourmission.Wedonotendorsenon-ClevelandClinicproductsorservices. 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