FACTORS AFFECTING VS Flashcards
FOOD
TEMP
Eating food increases temp and not eating decreases temp.
Protein foods have greatest effects.
Wait 15-30 mins after eating/drinking
AGE/BODY FAT
TEMP
Infants and elderly can’t maintain body temp.
Infants larger body surface area- higher metabolism.
Elderly- poor circulation.
CLIMATE
TEMP
Cool environment causes vasoconstriction
Shunting blood to core organs.
GENDER
TEMP
Higher in women during ovulation
(surge of progesterone, pregnancy maintaining hormone)
EXERCISE ACTIVITY
TEMP
Increases temp. through muscle contractions/ shivering.
Decreased activity–decreased temp.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM (TIME OF DAY)
TEMP
Temp lowest from midnight to dawn and highest in late afternoon and evening.
ILLNESS/INJURY
PULSE
Hypoxia—increases pulse.
CV disease—can increase or decrease, make irregular.
Increased ICP= decreased pulse, irregular pulse
AGE
PULSE
Adolescence and adults same.
Younger higher values
BODY TEMP
PULSE
For every degree of temp the pulse rate increases by 10 bpm.
GENDER
PULSE
Men are 60-65 bpm at rest and women are 7-8 bpm faster.
EXERCISE ACTIVITY
PULSE
Rates increase with exercise and decrease with rest.
Regular aerobic exercise training effect-lower pulses.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
PULSE
Rates lower in morning and increase later in day.
EMOTIONS
TEMP
Anxiety /stress= temp higher and depressed = temp lower
ILLNESS/INJURY
TEMP
Can cause temp to be higher or lower based on where disease/trauma located.
Infection, fluid loss, heat stroke, head injury
MEDICATIONS
TEMP
Ones that lower body temp when febrile.
Stimulant drugs increase temp.
EMOTIONS
PULSE
Fear, anger, excitement, and pain increase pulse rates.
BLOOD VOLUME
PULSE
Blood loss increases pulse due to
body trying to increase O2 transport to needed areas
Fluid overload= bounding pulse
MEDICATIONS
PULSE
Some meds slow down the heart rate-Digoxin. Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, some inhalers increase heart rate.
RACE
BP
Higher in African Americans
AGE
BP
Increases with age due to plaque build up and vessels lose their elasticity.
HYDRATION
BP
Dehydration – loss of volume= B/P low
Overhydration- increased fluid volume/fluid overload = B/P higher
GENDER
BP
Women’s are lower than men of the same age.
EXERCISE ACTIVITY
BP
Increases with exercise which helps to keep B/P WNL.
Lower B/P when lying down.
CIRCADIAN RHYTHM
BP
Lowest after midnight and begins rising at 4-5 am and peaks during mid morning/early afternoon.
SMOKING
RR
Increases
AGE
RR
Varies with age.
BODY TEMP
RR
Every 1 degree rise in temperature equals an increase in 4 breaths per minute.
ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE
RR
Heat: increases
Cool- decreases
EXERCISE/ACTIVITY
RR
INCREASES
EMOTIONS
RR
Pain, anxiety, stress- increases
MISC
BP
Increases with a full bladder, when the legs are crossed, and when a person is cold.
Increased ICP = increased B/P
EMOTIONS
BP
Strong emotional experiences, stress and anxiety, causes B/P to increase.
MEDICATIONS
BP
Caffeine, nicotine, and cocaine increase B/P.
ILLNESS/INJURY
RR
Asthma, emphysema, DM, and metabolic acidosis increases.
Increased intracranial pressure, vomiting, and metabolic alkalosis decreases.
MEDICATIONS
RR
Narcotics/
Sedatives= decrease
Drug overdose= decrease (depends on drug)
