Vital signs

Vital signs are measurements of basic body functions, commonly including body temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. They help assess physiological status and detect changes in health.

Body temperature: A measure of the body's thermal state, shaped by heat production and heat loss. Temperature is one of the traditional core vital signs.
Thermometer: An instrument that measures temperature through a physical property that changes with heat. Clinical thermometers estimate body temperature at different sites.
Triage: The process of sorting patients by urgency and directing them to appropriate levels of care. Vital signs help identify patients needing immediate assessment.
Reference range: An interval of values regarded as typical for a defined population and measurement method. Vital-sign readings are interpreted against age- and context-appropriate ranges.
Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually expressed in beats per minute. A pulse commonly provides a bedside estimate of heart rate.
Pulse oximetry: A noninvasive method that estimates arterial oxygen saturation from light absorption in pulsatile blood. It can add oxygen saturation and pulse rate to routine observations.
Early warning score: A clinical scoring system that combines observations to flag patients at risk of deterioration. Vital-sign abnormalities contribute to escalation scores in hospitals.
Basal body temperature: The body's temperature at rest, measured under standardized conditions, often for fertility tracking. It is a specialized resting measure, unlike routine clinical temperature readings.
Respiratory rate: The number of breaths taken per unit of time, usually expressed in breaths per minute. Breathing rate is a core measure of respiratory function.
Sphygmomanometer: An instrument used to measure blood pressure, typically with an inflatable cuff and pressure sensor. The cuff method converts arterial pressure into systolic and diastolic readings.

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