things that can affect your vital signs

Air, Sunshine, Environmental temperature, sound, etc.

six vital signs

• Temperature (T)
• pulse (P)
• respirations(R)
• blood pressure (BP)
• oxygen saturation (o2 SAT, Pulse ox, or Spo2)
• pain

TPR

temperature, pulse, and respiration

-98.8-82-18

BP

blood pressure

116/72

pulse ox, o2 sat, or spo2 (oxygen saturation)

-97% RA or 97%-3l

body temperature

the amount of heat the body produces and the amount of heat that is gained or lost to the external environment

core temperature

temperature of the deeper structures and tissues

most IMPORTANT measurement to maintain

thermogenesis

production of heat

Liver is always metabolically active and produces 15 to 20% of body heat in the resting state

routes used for taking temperature

• oral
• tympanic
• temporal
• rectal
• axillary
• skin

any physical activity that increases metabolism will increase heat production

• shivering- increase heat production 4 to 5 times normal

what organ is ALWAYS metabolically active

Liver

what percentage does the liver produce of body heat in the resting state

15 to 20%

hypothalamus

elevated temp

febril

temperature os greater than noraml

afebril

they don't have a temperature (normal)

constriciton

redirecting blood flow to vital organs

many facts affect body temp- what are some?

• environment
• time of day
• gender
• physical activity&exercise
• medications
• stress
• food or drink
• illness

what is normal body temperature in Celsius

37 celcius

axillary temp

used for patients who cannot hold an oral thermometer in place (under armpit)

tympanic temperature

(in your ear) used for patients who have difficulty breathing or use oxygen

adult- pull pinna up &back~ child- pull pinna down and back

temporal

located on side of forehead

inaccurate if hair is thick

nonconatct infrared thermometer

hold one inch from the center of the patients forehead