Vital signs: temperature, pulse, and respiration

Vital signs are the measurement of body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. Vital signs are indicators of one's overall health. They offer clues to diseases and help evaluate progress toward recovery. Vital signs should be taken at rest. Any abnormal findings should be repeated in order to verify the findings.

Body temperature: Body temperature is taken with a thermometer. The most common places to measure temperature include the mouth (oral temperature), under the arm (axillary temperature), the anus (rectal temperature) and the ear (tympanic temperature). In general, the normal oral temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (or 37 degrees Centigrade). Body temperature is lower in the morning than it is in late afternoon and evening. Temperature can vary with other factors, such as exercise, drinking hot or cold fluids, sitting in a cold room, fighting an infection, and by the accuracy and type of thermometer used.

Pulse rate and rhythm: Checking your pulse rate is counting the number of times your heart beats in a minute. Pulse checks can be taken at the wrist (radial pulse) or at the neck (carotid pulse). Do not use your thumb; instead use your index and middle fingers. A resting adult heart rate should be between 60 and 80 beats a minute. Athletes may have lower rates. Children, depending on their age, will have higher pulse rates. Your heart rhythm should be regular, without any missing or closely spaced beats.

Respiratory rate: Checking your respiratory rate is counting the number of times you take a breath in a minute. The best time to check the respiratory rate is at rest. To do this, count the number of times the chest rises for one full minute while breathing normally. The normal adult rate is 12 to 18 breaths per minute. Children breathe faster.

Blood pressure: Checking your blood pressure is measuring the force of the circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. The average blood pressure is 120 millimeters of mercury (systolic-the upper number), over 80 millimeters of mercury (diastolic-the lower number). A resting blood pressure of over 90 diastolic is considered mildly elevated; over 100 may require treatment.

High tech, user-friendly devices can be purchased at low cost to measure vital signs at home. A thermometer measures temperature. A blood pressure machine can measure blood pressure and pulse rate. Follow the instructions carefully. The proper size and type of equipment must be used. Check with a licensed healthcare professional to make sure you are performing the procedure correctly.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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