You might hear the word vital signs in almost any medical setting. These words may be more familiar to you if your loved ones are receiving personal health care in Florida.
But what are vital signs, really? Why would a private duty aide monitor them?
Vital signs can help provide details about the body’s most basic functions. Medical professionals, including providers of home care in West Palm Beach, Florida, use vital signs to measure how a patient is doing. If the measurements are not within the normal ranges, there is something wrong.
The Most Commonly Monitored Vital Signs
- Body Temperature
Medical professionals can take body temperature orally, rectally, or axillary. A healthy adult has a normal body temperature range of 36.5 degrees Celsius to 37.2 degrees Celsius. Anything above that may indicate fever. Anything below may mean hypothermia. - Pulse Rate or Heart Rate
A healthy adult generally has a normal heart rate of 60 to 100 beats every minute. - Blood Pressure
A healthy adult normally has 120/80 blood pressure. A reading above that can mean hypertension. If below that number, it means hypotension. - Respiration Rate
This is the number of breaths an individual takes every minute. Normally, a healthy adult has a respiration rate of 12 to 16 breaths.
Our care staff at Excellent Care, Inc. understands these vital signs and will help monitor them. This way, we can help detect and treat possible medical problems. If you need our services, along with companion care, feel free to reach out to us today.