Vital Signs

Question 1

vital signs

Answer 1

measurements of the body’s most basic functions.

Question 2

What are the 4 main vital signs?

Answer 2

Pulse
Temp
Respiration rate
Blood pressure

Question 3

Why are vital signs taken?

Answer 3

to help assess the general physical health of a person, give clues to possible diseases, show progress toward recovery

Question 4

Normal ranges for vital signs

Answer 4

vary with age, weight, gender, and overall health

Question 5

Pulse rate

Answer 5

key indicator of cardiovascular function

Question 6

temperature

Answer 6

reflects inflammation or infection

Question 7

respiration rate

Answer 7

key indicator of pulmonary function

Question 8

Blood pressure

Answer 8

another key indicator of cardiovascular health

Question 9

What forms the cornerstone of dx?

Answer 9

history and physical examination. Vital signs are considered to be the foundation of the physical exam

Question 10

What does pulse measure?

Answer 10

the surge of arterial blood that occurs with each contraction of the heart muscle. Primarily indicates the force, rate, rhythm of the heartbeat

Question 11

Where can pulse be taken?

Answer 11

• radial artery
• temporal artery
• carotid artery

Question 12

Normal pulse rate

Answer 12

• 60-100bpm

- there are variations due to things such as exercise or being an athlete

Question 13

tachycardia

Answer 13

pulse too fast

Question 14

bradycardia

Answer 14

pulse too slow

Question 15

causes of tachycardia

Answer 15

• inflammation
• symp stimulation or parasym inhibition
• meds
• cardiac abnormalities

Question 16

tachycardia: inflammation

Answer 16

• causes fever

- for every degree increase, there is an increase of 10 bpm

Question 17

tachycardia: symp stim/parasym inhibition

Answer 17

• fight or flight reaction

- systemic diseases (anemia, hyperthyroidism, tumors)

Question 18

tachycardia: meds

Answer 18

• systemic (anit-depressants, diet pills, asthma meds, ritalin)
• ocular (phenylephrine, cyclopentolate)

Question 19

tachycardia: cardiac abnormalities

Answer 19

MI
CHF
atrial fibrilation

Question 20

causes of bradycardia

Answer 20

-parasymp stimulation or symp inhibition
-meds
cardiac abnormalities

Question 21

bradycardia: symp inhibition/parasymp stimulation

Answer 21

systemic disease (hypothyroidism, etc)

Question 22

bradycardia: meds

Answer 22

ocular: pilocarpine, B-blockers (timolol, etc)

Question 23

bradycardia: cardiac abnormalities

Answer 23

various types of heart block

Question 24

Pulse rhythm

Answer 24

• should be regular (occurring at set intervals)
• occasional premature beats are normal (skip a beat)
• frequent dysrhythmia require investigation

Question 25

pulse force

Answer 25

should be fairly consistent without significant variation (as may occur with CHF, etc)

Question 26

pulse quality

Answer 26

Should not be abnormally weak (difficult to detect)

Question 27

What should you do if pulse is abnormal?

Answer 27

- recognize - record - address (refer to cardiologist)

Question 28

blood pressure

Answer 28

measures vascular pressure during heartbeat and between heartbeats

Question 29

Why be concerned about BP?

Answer 29

- silent killer - has no symptoms - pts may not go to other drs if they feel well - HTN can be the cause of visual symptoms and/or ocular problems (blindness, double vision)

Question 30

untreated HTN leads to...

Answer 30

- stroke - MI - kidney problems - death

Question 31

Normal BP

Answer 31

UNDER 120/80

Question 32

preHTN

Answer 32

120-139 or 80-89

Question 33

stage 1 HTN

Answer 33

140-159 or 90-99

Question 34

stage 2 HTN

Answer 34

160 or high, or 100 or higher

Question 35

HTN crisis

Answer 35

higher than 180, or higher than 110

Question 36

What is normal BP for adult over 20

Answer 36

less than 120/80

Question 37

BP changes

Answer 37

can change from minute to minute with changes in posture, exercise, stress, or sleep

Question 38

HTN Dx

Answer 38

NOT diagnosed with a single high BP reading

Question 39

How many people in US have HTN?

Answer 39

1/3

Question 40

sphymomanometry

Answer 40

measuring BP

Question 41

How to measure BP

Answer 41

- pt sits quietly for a min - place right sized cuff around upper arm and inflate - slowly deflate cuff and listen to brachial artery in antecubital space to listen for appearance/disappearance of sounds - do not dx HTN after a single high BP reading!!

Question 42

What to do when finding HTN

Answer 42

- recheck | - referral

Question 43

referral of preHTN

Answer 43

PCP within 1-2 months

Question 44

referral of stage 1 HTN

Answer 44

PCP within a month

Question 45

referral of stage 2 HTN

Answer 45

PCP/cardiologist/ER immediately

Question 46

referral of HTN crisis

Answer 46

911, transport via ambulance

Question 47

respiration

Answer 47

refers to breathing: inspiration and expiration=one respiratory cycle

Question 48

Normal resp rate for adults

Answer 48

12-18 breaths per min

Question 49

respiration quality

Answer 49

- easy and regular | - labored and irregular is abnormal (dyspnea=shortness of breath)

Question 50

abnormalities in respiration

Answer 50

-indicate systemic health problems

Question 51

respiration rates in optometry

Answer 51

not routinely measured for in OD offices, but may have implications for eye care (which glaucoma meds to avoid in patients with COPD)

Question 52

temperature

Answer 52

refers to the body's internal temp

Question 53

normal temp for adults

Answer 53

97.8-99 degrees

Question 54

abnormal temps

Answer 54

fever and hypothermia

Question 55

fever

Answer 55

when body temp rises about 1 degree or more over the normal temp of 98.6 degrees F

Question 56

Hypothermia

Answer 56

drop in body temperature below 95 degrees F

Question 57

temp in optometry

Answer 57

not routinely measured in optometry, but may have implications for eye care. (differentiation the cause of red eye)