Vital Signs Flashcards
What is normal oral temperature?
35.8 - 37.5
What is Thermoregulation?
The feedback mechanism used by the hypothalamus of the brain to regulate body temperature
What is conduction?
Heat transfer from object with higher temperature to object with lower temperature
What is responsible for 3% of body heat loss?
Direct contact with solids, liquids and gas
What brings body temp up?
Warm bath
Hot pack
Clothes/blankets
What brings body temp down?
Cold pack
Contact with cool surface/water
What is convection?
Transfer of heat by fluid (air, water, gas) current movement (responsible for 15% body heat loss)
What brings body temp up (convection)?
Hair dryer
Forced air warming blankets
What brings body temp down convection)?
Wind chill
What does the hypothalamus do?
Senses blood temperature and balances heat production with heat loss
What does bodily heat loss mechanisms (negative feedback) do?
Redistribute surface blood flow, cause vasodilation and/or sweating
What does heat conservation mechanisms (negative feedback) do?
Increase cell metabolism, cause vasoconstriction, shivering, hair erection (goose bumps)
What are factors that affect body temperature?
Age Exercise Hormone level Circadian rhythm Stress Environment Fever Non-febrile diseases
How to take a oral temperature?
Base of tongue to right/left frenulum
Lips closed, avoid biting
Allow 15 min following consumed hot/cold beverages
How to take a axillary temp?
Place the thermometer in middle of axilla
Leave glass thermometer in place for 5 mins
Placement affects reading
How to take a tympanic temp?
Attach cover to probe
Place thermometer over entrance to ear canal
Grasp pinna and gently pull up and back, aim probe towards opposite ear
Press start
Wait for signal, beep sound
How to take a rectal (don gloves) temp?
Position patient with buttocks exposed
Asking the patient to take a deep breath insert lubricated thermometer 1.5-2.5 cm into the anus
Leave for 1 min
What is hypothetmia?
A decrease in body temperature due to the inability if the body to produce heat usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold
What are the symptoms of hypothermia?
Sleepiness and coma
Locally frostbite
Arrhythmia/cardiac arrest/ death after 20-30 min exposure
What is hyperthermia?
An elevated body temp, related to the inability of the body to promote heat loss or reduce heat production
What are the symptoms of hyperthermia?
Leads to tissue damage (in brain) due to protein losses, lack off oxygen and nutrients to the cells
Death without intervention (41-44)
Fevers below 40 should be allowed to run their course
What is the normal rectal temp?
36.2-38
To where does the heart circulate blood?
To all body tissues via arterial blood vessels
What does each heart beat create?
A pressure wave (pulse) throughout the length of the vascular bed
Where is the pulse palpated?
At body sites where an artery lies close to the skin and over a bone
What is the pulse rate?
The number of pulsating sensations occurring in 1 minute