Week 1 Flashcards
Why monitoring of vital signs is important
- Detection/monitoring of medical issues - OTA/PTAs must monitor vital signs before, during, after mobilization
- Contra-indications to activity or exercise – review chart, recognize and act accordingly to changes during session
Heart Rate
Abbreviation?
What is it?
Expressed?
Normal range?
What affects it?
HR
The number of times the heart beats each minute
Expressed in beats per minute (bpm)
Normal range at rest for 1) Adults: 60-100 2) Children: 80-200 (since heart is not as developed, elastic can’t stretch as far so requires more frequent smaller pumps to pump blood through body)
Body positioning, medications, caffeine affect HR
What are the 3 ways of measuring HR?
- Radial check – index and third finger on radial bone
- Pulse oximeter – probe placed on patient’s finger to check oxygen levels and HR
- Telemetry – measures heart activity continuously over prolonged period of time
Bradycardia
: SLOW HR of less than 50 BPM (at rest)
Tachycardia
VERY FAST HR of more than 100 BPM (at rest)
Arrythmia
IRREGULAR heart beats
Systolic
Heart contracting
Diastolic
Heart at rest
Blood Pressure:
Abbreviation?
What is it?
Expressed?
How is it presented?
How is it measured?
BP
Indicator of the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls
Expressed in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
Recorded with systolic # first/on top, diastolic #last/on bottom
1) Measured manually – sphygmomanometer
2) Measured automatically - Automated blood pressure monitors
Normal BP (healthy adult)
120/80
Prehypertension levels
120 – 139
Hypertension (HTN) Stage 1
140 -159
Hypertension (HTN) Stage 2
160 or higher
Hypertensive crisis
Higher than 180
Hypotension
Symptoms?
Low blood pressure
(isn’t serious unless pt is experiencing symptoms)
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Lightheaded
- Nausea
What are 2 important reasons for monitoring BP?
- Silent killer (often asymptomatic)
- Contraindication to exercise (BP may change while exercising should check before AND after)
Hypertension
High blood pressure
Hypotension
low blood pressure
Orthostatic hypotension
Low blood pressure which suddenly occurs when standing from a siting/supine position
Peripheral Oxygen Saturation
Abbreviation?
What is it?
Expressed?
SpO2
Noninvasive and measures the saturation of oxygen carried in RBC with pulse oximeter
expressed in %, 1st #: oxygen saturation, 2nd #: Heart rate
If finger reading is not working, probe can be placed on toe or ear
Finger needs to be warm, no nail polish, pulse oximeter adequate battery life
Normal SpO2
95% - 100%
Normal SpO2 in people with COPD
88% to 92%
Hypoxic/Yellow flag
proceed with caution
85% to 94%
Severely Hypoxic/Red flag
stop intervention
85% or lower
Respiratory Rate
Abbreviation?
Expressed?
Normal limits?
RR
Expressed in breaths per minute (bpm)
Normal (healthy adult): 12 to 20
Function of heart
pump the blood, rich in oxygen and nutrients, through the blood vessels to the different parts of the body and then picks up metabolic waste to be expelled