Vital Signs Flashcards

1
Q

vital signs

A

measurements of the body’s most basic functions.

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2
Q

What are the 4 main vital signs?

A

Pulse
Temp
Respiration rate
Blood pressure

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3
Q

Why are vital signs taken?

A

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

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4
Q

Normal ranges for vital signs

A

vary with age, weight, gender, and overall health

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5
Q

Pulse rate

A

key indicator of cardiovascular function

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6
Q

temperature

A

reflects inflammation or infection

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7
Q

respiration rate

A

key indicator of pulmonary function

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8
Q

Blood pressure

A

another key indicator of cardiovascular health

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9
Q

What forms the cornerstone of dx?

A

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

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10
Q

What does pulse measure?

A

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

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11
Q

Where can pulse be taken?

A
  • radial artery
  • temporal artery
  • carotid artery
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12
Q

Normal pulse rate

A
  • 60-100bpm

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

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13
Q

tachycardia

A

pulse too fast

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14
Q

bradycardia

A

pulse too slow

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15
Q

causes of tachycardia

A
  • inflammation
  • symp stimulation or parasym inhibition
  • meds
  • cardiac abnormalities
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16
Q

tachycardia: inflammation

A
  • causes fever

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

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17
Q

tachycardia: symp stim/parasym inhibition

A
  • fight or flight reaction

- systemic diseases (anemia, hyperthyroidism, tumors)

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18
Q

tachycardia: meds

A
  • systemic (anit-depressants, diet pills, asthma meds, ritalin)
  • ocular (phenylephrine, cyclopentolate)
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19
Q

tachycardia: cardiac abnormalities

A

MI
CHF
atrial fibrilation

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20
Q

causes of bradycardia

A

-parasymp stimulation or symp inhibition
-meds
cardiac abnormalities

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21
Q

bradycardia: symp inhibition/parasymp stimulation

A

systemic disease (hypothyroidism, etc)

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22
Q

bradycardia: meds

A

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

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23
Q

bradycardia: cardiac abnormalities

A

various types of heart block

24
Q

Pulse rhythm

A
  • should be regular (occurring at set intervals)
  • occasional premature beats are normal (skip a beat)
  • frequent dysrhythmia require investigation
25
Q

pulse force

A

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

26
Q

pulse quality

A

Should not be abnormally weak (difficult to detect)

27
Q

What should you do if pulse is abnormal?

A
  • recognize
  • record
  • address (refer to cardiologist)
28
Q

blood pressure

A

measures vascular pressure during heartbeat and between heartbeats

29
Q

Why be concerned about BP?

A
  • 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)
30
Q

untreated HTN leads to…

A
  • stroke
  • MI
  • kidney problems
  • death
31
Q

Normal BP

A

UNDER 120/80

32
Q

preHTN

A

120-139 or 80-89

33
Q

stage 1 HTN

A

140-159 or 90-99

34
Q

stage 2 HTN

A

160 or high, or 100 or higher

35
Q

HTN crisis

A

higher than 180, or higher than 110

36
Q

What is normal BP for adult over 20

A

less than 120/80

37
Q

BP changes

A

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

38
Q

HTN Dx

A

NOT diagnosed with a single high BP reading

39
Q

How many people in US have HTN?

A

1/3

40
Q

sphymomanometry

A

measuring BP

41
Q

How to measure BP

A
  • 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!!
42
Q

What to do when finding HTN

A
  • recheck

- referral

43
Q

referral of preHTN

A

PCP within 1-2 months

44
Q

referral of stage 1 HTN

A

PCP within a month

45
Q

referral of stage 2 HTN

A

PCP/cardiologist/ER immediately

46
Q

referral of HTN crisis

A

911, transport via ambulance

47
Q

respiration

A

refers to breathing: inspiration and expiration=one respiratory cycle

48
Q

Normal resp rate for adults

A

12-18 breaths per min

49
Q

respiration quality

A
  • easy and regular

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

50
Q

abnormalities in respiration

A

-indicate systemic health problems

51
Q

respiration rates in optometry

A

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

52
Q

temperature

A

refers to the body’s internal temp

53
Q

normal temp for adults

A

97.8-99 degrees

54
Q

abnormal temps

A

fever and hypothermia

55
Q

fever

A

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

56
Q

Hypothermia

A

drop in body temperature below 95 degrees F

57
Q

temp in optometry

A

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