WEBVTT

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VITAL SIGNS: KNOW YOUR NUMBERS
Your heart rate, breathing

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or respiratory rate,
blood pressure,

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and temperature are known
as your vital signs.

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Measuring your vital signs helps
your healthcare provider assess

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your basic bodily functions.

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You may be asked to record
some of your vital signs.

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To do so, you should understand
what your vital signs mean,

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and how to measure them.

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For each measurement, the ranges

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that are considered normal
will vary depending on your age

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and sex, whether you have
any medical problems,

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and how physically fit you are.

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Understanding Your Vital Signs
Heart Rate For most adults,

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a normal resting heart
rate is between sixty

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and one hundred beats
per minute.

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If your heart rate is
too high or too low,

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you may experience chest
pain, shortness of breath,

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lightheadedness,
dizziness, or fainting.

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Respiratory Rate A normal
respiratory rate for adults

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at rest is twelve to
eighteen breaths per minute.

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Rapid or deep breathing,
known as hyperventilation,

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can occur with anxiety, panic,
and some medical conditions

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such as heart and lung problems.

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Symptoms of rapid breathing
include breathlessness,

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chest pain, and bloating,
as well as lightheadedness,

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dizziness, confusion,
and numbness or tingling.

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Blood Pressure Your blood
pressure measures how much force

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is applied to your blood vessels

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when your heart pumps
blood through your body.

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Blood pressure readings are
divided into two numbers.

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The first number is your
systolic blood pressure:

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the maximum pressure,
when your heart contracts.

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The second number is your
diastolic blood pressure:

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the minimum pressure, when
your heart is at rest.

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Normal blood pressure
is considered 120/80.

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High blood pressure
or hypertension occurs

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when there is a systolic reading
of 140 or greater at rest,

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or a diastolic reading
of 90 or greater at rest.

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The higher the readings are, the
more severe the condition is.

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Readings near these high
values, such as 135/85,

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might be considered
prehypertension, formerly known

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as "borderline hypertension."

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What is considered
normal can vary so talk

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with your healthcare provider

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about what a normal blood
pressure is for you.

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High blood pressure,
or hypertension,

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is called a silent killer

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because it usually
has no symptoms.

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Low blood pressure,
or hypotension,

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can be a sudden drop in blood
pressure or blood pressure

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that is consistently
below your normal range.

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Blurry vision, confusion,
lightheadedness, dizziness

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or weakness, and fainting

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or unexplained sleepiness are
all symptoms of hypotension.

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Temperature The average normal
body temperature is 98.6 degrees

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Fahrenheit when measured orally.

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Variations between 97.8 and
99.1 degrees Fahrenheit are also

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considered normal.

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You probably have a fever if
your temperature is higher

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than about ninety-nine
degrees Fahrenheit.

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The main symptom of fever is
being very warm to the touch,

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even if you are not sweating.

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A fever may be accompanied by
other symptoms, like achiness,

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sweats or chills
and body shakes.

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It is dangerous for
your body temperature

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to be below ninety-five
degrees Fahrenheit,

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a condition known
as hypothermia.

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Early symptoms of hypothermia
include drowsiness, weakness,

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loss of coordination, cold
skin, confusion, and shivering.

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Measuring Your Vital
Signs Heart Rate.

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You can measure your
own radial pulse

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on the inside of your wrist.

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You will need a clock
with a second hand.

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Use your middle and
index fingers

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of the opposite hand
you are checking.

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Do not use your thumb.

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Your hand and arm
should be relaxed

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and supported in front of you.

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Turn the palm of your hand
so that if faces upward.

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Follow the line of your thumb

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down until your reach
your wrist.

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There are bones right below
the base of your thumb,

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not directly in the center.

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Once you pass these, you
will reach a small area

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of soft tissue.

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You will feel the radial
pulse beating there.

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You might need to
move your fingers

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around slightly to find it.

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Count the beats for
fifteen seconds.

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Multiply this number by four to
get your heart rate per minute.

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Respiratory Rate.

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If you concentrate
on your breathing,

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it will tend to slow down.

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You may be able to have someone
measure your respiratory rate,

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without telling you when
he or she is taking it,

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by counting the number of
inhalations in ten seconds,

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and multiplying by six

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to get your respiratory
rate per minute.

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Blood Pressure.

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You can measure your
blood pressure

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at home using a blood
pressure monitor

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with a manual or automatic cuff.

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Avoid caffeine, alcohol,

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and tobacco for at least thirty
minutes before measuring your

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blood pressure.

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Use the restroom before
taking your blood pressure,

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and rest for three to five
minutes, without talking,

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before the measurement.

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Sit down with your arm resting
on a table at the same level

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as your heart, with
your legs uncrossed

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and your feet on the floor.

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Your upper arm should
be bare-roll

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up your sleeve if you need to.

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Wrap the blood pressure cuff
snugly around your upper arm,

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positioned with the cuff's lower
edge one inch above your elbow.

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Follow the manufacturer's
instructions

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to operate the monitor.

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Wait at least two to three
minutes before repeating

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the measurement.

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Temperature.

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To take your temperature,
you will need a thermometer.

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Mercury thermometers
are not recommended,

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because mercury is very toxic.

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Use a glass thermometer
without mercury,

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or an electronic thermometer.

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Always clean your
thermometer before use.

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If using a glass thermometer,
grip the end opposite the bulb

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and shake the thermometer
downward

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until it reads ninety-five
degrees Fahrenheit or less.

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Wait thirty minutes
after smoking, eating,

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or drinking a hot or cold
liquid, and at least one hour

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after exercising strenuously
or taking a hot bath,

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before taking your temperature.

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To take your temperature
orally, place the thermometer

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under your tongue, right
where it meets your lower jaw.

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This may be a bit
uncomfortable, but not painful.

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Close your mouth.

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Breathe through your
nose, and use your lips

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to hold the thermometer tightly
in place for three minutes.

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If you are using an electronic
thermometer, it will beep

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when it is time to
read the thermometer.

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When to Call Your Healthcare
Provider Call your healthcare

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provider or go to the emergency
room if: You experience major

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or unexpected changes in
your vital signs Changes

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in your vital signs are
accompanied by shortness

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of breath, chest pain,
unusual sweating, dizziness,

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or lightheadedness You have a
fever while you have a serious

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or chronic medical condition
Your blood pressure remains high

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What We Have Learned
Normal blood pressure is

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considered 120/80.

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True or False The
answer is True.

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The average normal body
temperature is 98.6 degrees

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Fahrenheit when measured orally.

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True or False The
answer is True.

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You should not use your thumb
when checking your pulse.

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True or False The
answer is True.