PCC - Vital Signs Flashcards
BMI
Body Mass Index
BP
Blood Pressure
BPM
Beats Per Minute
CV
Cardiovascular
DBP
Diastolic Blood Pressure
HTN
Hypertension
mmHg
Millimeters of mercury
RPM
Respirations per minute
SBP
Systolic Blood Pressure
General Assessment
- The “first impression”
- Assesses the patient as a whole
- Gives an initial impression of the patient’s health
- Physical parameters evaluate several bodysystems
FAST
- F: Face drooping
- A: Arm Weakness
- S: Speech
- T: Time to Call 9-1-1
Body Mass Index
- BMI= weight (kg)/height (m2)
- BMI= [weight (lb)/height (in2)] x 703
Medications Affecting Weight: Weight Gain
Steroids
Antipsychotics
Antidepressants
Diabetes Medications
Medications Affecting Weight: Weight Loss
ADHD medications
Antidepressants
Diabetes Medications
Edema
- fluid leaking into the tissue
- chronic edema (heart function, kidney function, liver function, medications)
- acute edema (inflammation, injury, diet, blood clot/obstruction, pregnancy, medications)
SCHOLAR
symptoms, characteristics, history, onset, location, aggravating factors, remitting factors
When to Refer a Fever
Adults and Children (above 24 months old)
≥ 104°F
≥ 100.4°F plus nonresponsive to medication and lasts longer than 3 days
≥ 100.4°F and symptomatic
Adult Pulse
60-100
Systolic Blood Pressure
maximum pressure on the arteries during contraction of the left ventricle (regulated by stroke volume)
Diastolic Blood Presssure
resting pressure between ventricle contractions
Pulse Pressure
SBP- DBP
Mid-BP
average of SBP and DBP
Mean Arterial Pressure
1/3 SBP + 2/3 DBP
Auscultatory Technique
Traditional Method
Brachial artery occluded to stop blood flow
Stethoscope to detect appearance and disappearance of Korotkoff sounds
Error prone
Oscillometric Technique
“Automatic cuff”
Read based on amplitude of oscillations recorded in the lateral walls of the upper arm
Software in a device
Five Phases of Korotkoff Sounds
Phase I: faint and clear tapping (systolic) Phase II: Swooshing sound Phase III: More intense, crisp tapping Phase IV: Muffled sound Phase V: Sound stops (diastolic)
BP Category: -Normal -Elevated Hypertension -Stage 1 -Stage 2
- <120 mm Hg and <80 mm Hg
- 120-129 mm Hg and <80 mm Hg
- 130-139 mm Hg and 80-89 mm Hg
- > = 140 mm Hg and >=90 mm Hg
24 hour ambulatory blood pressure
BP recorded automatically over period of 24 hours
May have stronger association with hypertension-related organ damage than office BP
More comprehensive than office BP measurements
Can identify BP patterns (sustained, white-coat, masked, nocturnal, nondipping, reverse-dipping)
Can help select management techniques
Limited by availability and cost
Take a reading every 15 or 30 minutes over 24 hours
Need to include nocturnal readings
White Coat Hypertension
Higher blood pressure measurement in an office setting
Orthostatic Hypotension
Associated with risk for fracture, syncope, and mortality
Hypertensive Crisis
SBP > 180 mm HG and/ or DBP > 120 mm Hg
Hypertensive Emergency
SBP > 180 mm HG and/ or DBP > 120 mm Hg AND target organ damage
Complications from Disease Progression
Increased cardiovascular risk
In 2010, high BP was the leading cause of death and disability-adjusted life years worldwide
In the United States, hypertension accounted for more CVD deaths than any other modifiable CVD risk factor
Second only to cigarette smoking as a preventable cause of death for any reason
Medications that elevate blood pressure
Alcohol Caffeine Decongestants – pseudoephedrine NSAIDS Herbal Supplements Oral Contraceptives
Lifestyle Changes to Impact Blood Pressure
- Weight loss: IBW as goal: 1 mm Hg for every 1 kg reduction in body weight
- DASH dietary plan: Diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains: -11 mm Hg
- Reduced dietary sodium: <1,500mg per day: -6 mm Hg
- Increased dietary potassium: 3500-5000 mg/day: -5 mm Hg
- Physical Activity: 150 minutes per week: -8 mm Hg
- Moderation in alcohol: <1 drink per day for women, <2 drinks per day for men: -4 mmHg
