Download Vital Signs and Anthropometric Measurements Vital signs

Comprehensive
Medical Assisting, 3rd Ed
Unit Four: Fundamentals of Clinical Medical
Assisting
Chapter 19 – Anthropometric Measurements
and Vital Signs
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Vital Signs and Anthropometric
Measurements
• Vital signs
– Cardinal signs
– Frequently measured and recorded by a medical
assistant
• Anthropometric measurements
– Information essential for the physician to diagnose,
treat, and prevent disorders
• Baseline
– Taken during the first visit
– Used as reference point
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Anthropometric Measurements
Weight
• Accurate weight is required for
– Pregnant patients
– Infants
– Children
– Elderly individuals
– Patients who have been prescribed certain
medications
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Anthropometric Measurements
Weight
• Scale
– Should be placed in a spot that the patient is
comfortable with
– Type
• Balance beam scale
• Digital scale
• Dial scale
– Measured in pounds or kilograms
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Anthropometric Measurements
Height
• Can be measured using a
– Movable ruler on the back of most balance beam
scales
– Graph ruler mounted on the wall
– Parallel bar moved down against the top of the
patient’s head
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Vital Signs
Temperature
• Reflects a balance between heat produced and heat
lost by the body
• Afebrile
– Temperature within normal limits
• Febrile
– Temperature above normal
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Vital Signs
Temperature
• Measured in either Fahrenheit or Celsius using a
thermometer
• Methods
– Oral
– Rectal
– Axillary
– Tympanic
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Vital Signs
Temperature
• Regulated by the hypothalamus
– Perspiration occurs when the hypothalamus
senses that the body is too warm
– Shivering occurs when the hypothalamus senses
that the body is too cool
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Vital Signs
Temperature
• Stages of fever
– Usually results from a disease process
– Pyrexia
• 102°F or higher rectally or 101°F or higher orally
– Hyperpyrexia
• 105° to 106°F
• Considered dangerous
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Vital Signs
Temperature
• Stages of fever
1. Onset
2. Course (may vary)
–
Sustained
–
Remittent
–
Intermittent
–
Relapsing
3. Resolution
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Vital Signs
Temperature
• Types of thermometers
– Glass mercury
– Electronic
– Tympanic
– Temporal artery
– Disposable
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Vital Signs
Pulse
• Expansion and relaxation of the arteries felt at
various points in the body
• Measured using
– Two or three fingers over the pulse point
– A stethoscope
– A Doppler unit
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Vital Signs
Pulse
• Characteristics
– Assess
• Rate
• Rhythm
• Volume
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Vital Signs
Respiration
• The exchange of gasses between the atmosphere
and blood in the body
• The body expels carbon dioxide (CO2) and takes in
oxygen (O2)
• Characteristics
– Rate
– Rhythm
– Depth
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Vital Signs
Blood Pressure
• Measure of the pressure of the blood as it is forced
against the arterial walls
• Systole
– Phase when the heard contracts
• Diastole
– Phase when the heart pauses briefly
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Vital Signs
Blood Pressure
• Cardiac cycle
– Period from the beginning of one heartbeat to
the next
• Measured using
– A stethoscope
– A sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff)
• Aneroid
• Mercury
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Vital Signs
Blood Pressure
• Korotkoff sounds
– Five phases of sounds heard while auscultating
the blood pressure
– Phases I and V are recorded as blood pressure
• Pulse pressure
– Difference between the systolic and diastolic
readings
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Vital Signs
Blood Pressure
• Auscultatory gap
– Possessed by patients with a history of
hypertension
– Loss of any sounds for a decrease of up to 30
mm Hg during the release of air from the blood
pressure cuff
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End of Presentation
Copyright © 2009 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins