Tpr

Taking a pulse (heart rate) Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. As your heart pumps blood through your body, you can feel a pulsing in some of the blood vessels close to the skin's surface. The usual resting pulse for an adult is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Certain illnesses can cause your pulse to change, so it is helpful to know what your resting pulse is when you are well. To find your resting pulse, count your pulse after you have been sitting or resting quietly for at least 10 minutes. You can easily check your pulse on the inside of your wrist, below your thumb. • • •

Gently place 2 fingers of your other hand on this artery. Do not use your thumb because it has its own pulse that you may feel. Count the beats for 30 seconds; then double the result to get the number of beats per minute.

You can also check your pulse in the carotid artery. This is located in your neck, on either side of your windpipe. Be careful when checking your pulse in this location, especially if you are older than 65. If you press too hard, you may become lightheaded and fall.

Your Pulse and Your Target Heart Rate What is your pulse? Your pulse is your heart rate, or the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Pulse rates vary from person to person. Your pulse is lower when you are at rest and increases when you exercise (because more oxygen-rich blood is needed by the body when you exercise). Knowing how to take your pulse can help you evaluate your exercise program. How to take your pulse 1. Place the tips of your index, second, and third fingers on the palm side of your other wrist, below the base of the thumb. Or, place the tips of your index and second fingers on your lower neck, on either side of your windpipe. (See the illustrations to the right.) 2. Press lightly with your fingers until you feel the blood pulsing beneath your fingers. You might need to move your fingers around slightly up or down until you feel the pulsing. 3. Use a watch with a second hand, or look at a clock with a second hand. 4. Count the beats you feel for 10 seconds. Multiply this number by six to get your heart rate (pulse) per minute.

Check your pulse: _______________ x 6 = ________________ (beats in 10 seconds) (your pulse) What is a normal pulse?

Age Group Children (ages 6-15)

Normal Heart Rate at Rest 70-100 beats per minute

Adults (age 18 and over) 60-100 beats per minute

Rr=Normal findings Average respiratory rate reported in a healthy adult at rest is usually given as 12 breaths per minute (12⁄60 Hz)[1][2] but estimates do vary between sources, e.g., 12–20 breaths per minute, 10–14,[3] between 16–18,[4] etc. With such a slow rate, more accurate readings are obtained by counting the number of breaths over a full minute.

[edit] Optimum breathing A trained, systematic approach to deep breathing may lower respiration rates in cardiac patients, helping them to maintain healthy blood oxygen levels and become more physically fit. In one study, 15 cardiac patients were assigned to one of two experimental groups. One of the groups learned "complete yoga breathing," a style of respiration that encourages slow, deep breathing at a rate of about six breaths per minute. Those patients continued practicing the breathing method at home for an hour a day. After a month, the patients practicing the breathing technique breathed more slowly, had higher levels of blood oxygen, and performed better on exercise tests.[5] Average respiratory rates, by age: • • • • • • •

Newborns: Average 44 breaths per minute Infants: 20–40 breaths per minute Preschool children: 20–30 breaths per minute Older children: 16–25 breaths per minute Adults: 12–20 breaths per minute Adults during strenuous exercise 35–45 breaths per minute Athletes' peak 60–70 breaths per minute[6]

Examples •

5-year-old child sitting (Breathing frequency: 23⁄60 Hz, Tidal volume: 0.213 L)

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Adult male sitting (Breathing frequency: 12⁄60 Hz, Tidal volume: 0.75 L)[7]

Respiratory Rate WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW Your respiratory rate is measured in number of breaths per minute. For most people it's typically 12 to 20. The rate increases during exercise, excitement, pain, and fever. It declines during relaxation and sleep. Your doctor may want regular readings of your respiratory rate if you have a lung disease or other illness, or are taking a medicine that can suppress respiration. Often, readings are needed before and after exercise. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO Mere awareness of your breathing is enough to change your respiratory rate, so taking your own count is not recommended. For a more accurate measurement, have someone else take the reading. To Count Respirations You'll need a watch or clock with a second hand. Keep count for a full 60 seconds. (If you wish, you may count for 30 seconds and multiply the number by 2.) The person should be seated. Place your hand on the upper chest to feel it rise and fall. Each rise/fall cycle counts as one respiration. Note whether the individual's breathing is deep (slow) or shallow (fast). Write down anything else you notice about the breathing (for example, regularity or irregularity).

How to Measure and Record Respiratory Rate By eHow Health Editor Rate: (32 Ratings) An injured person's respiratory rate will help the rescuer assess the injury, and is an important indicator of how the person is responding to treatment. Record the respiratory rate every 15 minutes and pass this information on to a medical professional when care is transferred. Instructions

Things You'll Need: • • • • •

Notebooks Pens Stopwatches Pens Notebooks

1. Step 1 Observe the injured person's stomach or chest and watch until you see it rise and fall. 2. Step 2

Count the number of times the stomach or chest rises for 15 seconds and multiply by 4, or for 30 seconds and multiply by 2. This tells you the respiratory rate per minute. 3. Step 3 Note the rhythm of the breathing. Is it regular or irregular? 4. Step 4 Note how much effort it takes for the person to breathe. Is the breath labored, or effortless? 5. Step 5 Note if the breathing is deep or shallow. 6. Step 6 Smell the breath for any unusual odor, especially noting a fruity odor or a fecal odor. 7. Step 7 Record your findings in the following manner: rate, rhythm, effort, depth, noise and odors. For example: "Respiratory rate is 30, irregular, labored, shallow, gurgling and with no odor." •

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Non-Traumatic Emergencies Vital Signs (Body Temperature, Pulse Rate, Respiration Rate, Blood Pressure) What are vital signs? Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and healthcare providers include the following: • • • •

body temperature pulse rate respiration rate (rate of breathing) blood pressure (Blood pressure is not considered a vital sign, but is often measured along with the vital signs.)

Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere.

What is body temperature? The normal body temperature of a person varies depending on gender, recent activity, food and fluid consumption, time of day, and, in women, the stage of the menstrual cycle. Normal body temperature, according to the American Medical Association, can range from 97.8° F (or Fahrenheit, equivalent to 36.5° C, or Celsius) to 99° F (37.2° C). A person's body temperature can be taken in any of the following ways: What is fever? Fever (also called pyrexia) is defined as body temperature that is higher than normal for each individual. It generally indicates that there is an abnormal process going on within the body. The severity of a condition is not necessarily reflected by the degree of fever. For example, influenza may cause a fever of 104° F, while pneumonia may cause a very low-grade fever or no fever at all. Consult with your physician if you have any questions about whether a fever is significant. •

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orally Temperature can be taken by mouth using either the classic glass thermometer, or the more modern digital thermometers that use an electronic probe to measure body temperature. rectally Temperatures taken rectally (using a glass or digital thermometer) tend to be 0.5 to 0.7° F higher than when taken by mouth. axillary Temperatures can be taken under the arm using a glass or digital thermometer. Temperatures taken by this route tend to be 0.3 to 0.4° F lower than those temperatures taken by mouth.

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by ear A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of the ear drum, which reflects the body's core temperature (the temperature of the internal organs).

Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature) or hypothermia (low temperature). A fever is indicated when body temperature rises above 98.6° F orally or 99.8° F rectally, according to the American Medical Association. Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body temperature below 95° F.

About glass thermometers containing mercury: According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), mercury is a toxic substance that poses a threat to the health of humans, as well as to the environment. Because of the risk of breaking, glass thermometers containing mercury should be removed from use and disposed of properly in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. Contact your local health department, waste disposal authority, or fire department for information on how to properly dispose of mercury thermometers.

What is the pulse rate? The pulse rate is a measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, the arteries expand and contract with the flow of the blood. Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate, but also can indicate the following: • •

heart rhythm strength of the pulse

The normal pulse for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. The pulse rate may fluctuate and increase with exercise, illness, injury, and emotions. Females ages 12 and older, in general, tend to have faster heart rates than do males. Athletes, such as runners, who do a lot of cardiovascular conditioning, may have heart rates near 40 beats per minute and experience no problems.

Click Image to Enlarge

How to check your pulse: As the heart forces blood through the arteries, you feel the beats by firmly pressing on the arteries, which are located close to the surface of the skin at certain points of the body. The pulse can be found on the side of the lower neck, on the inside of the elbow, or at the wrist. When taking your pulse: • • • • •

Using the first and second fingertips, press firmly but gently on the arteries until you feel a pulse. Begin counting the pulse when the clock's second hand is on the 12. Count your pulse for 60 seconds (or for 15 seconds and then multiply by four to calculate beats per minute). When counting, do not watch the clock continuously, but concentrate on the beats of the pulse. If unsure about your results, ask another person to count for you.

If your physician has ordered you to check your own pulse and you are having difficulty finding it, consult your physician or nurse for additional instruction.

What is the respiration rate? The respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. The rate is usually measured when a person is at rest and simply involves counting the number of breaths for one minute by counting how many times the chest rises. Respiration rates may increase with fever, illness, and with other medical conditions. When checking respiration, it is important to also note whether a person has any difficulty breathing. Normal respiration rates for an adult person at rest range from 15 to 20 breaths per minute. Respiration rates over 25 breaths per minute or under 12 breaths per minute (when at rest) may be considered abnormal.

What is blood pressure? Blood pressure, measured with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope by a nurse or other healthcare provider, is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts. One cannot take his/her own blood pressure unless an electronic blood pressure monitoring device is used. Electronic blood pressure monitors may also measure the heart rate, or pulse. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body. The lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as "mm Hg" (millimeters of mercury). This recording represents how high the mercury column is raised by the pressure of the blood.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke (brain attack). With high blood pressure, the arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), high blood pressure for adults is defined as: •

140 mm Hg or greater systolic pressure

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and 90 mm Hg or greater diastolic pressure

In an update of NHLBI guidelines for hypertension in 2003, a new blood pressure category was added called prehypertension: •

120 mm Hg – 139 mm Hg systolic pressure

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and 80 mm Hg – 89 mm Hg diastolic pressure

The new NHLBI guidelines now define normal blood pressure as follows: •

Less than 120 mm Hg systolic pressure

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and Less than 80 mm Hg diastolic pressure

These numbers should be used as a guide only. A single elevated blood pressure measurement is not necessarily an indication of a problem. Your physician will want to see multiple blood pressure measurements over several days or weeks before making a diagnosis of hypertension (high blood pressure) and initiating treatment. A person who normally runs a lower-than-usual blood pressure may be considered hypertensive with lower blood pressure measurements than 140/90.

Why should I monitor my blood pressure at home? For persons with hypertension, home monitoring allows your physician to monitor how much your blood pressure changes during the day, and from day to day. This may also help your physician determine how effectively your blood pressure medication is working.

What special equipment is needed to measure blood pressure? Either an aneroid monitor, which has a dial gauge and is read by looking at a pointer, or a digital monitor, in which the blood pressure reading flashes on a small screen, can be used to measure blood pressure.

About the aneroid monitor:

The aneroid monitor is less expensive and easier to manage than the digital monitor. The cuff is inflated by hand by squeezing a rubber bulb. Some units even have a special feature to make it easier to put the cuff on with one hand. However, the unit can be easily damaged and become less accurate. Because the person using it must listen for heartbeats with the stethoscope, it may not be appropriate for the hearingimpaired.

About the digital monitor: The digital monitor is automatic, with the measurements appearing on a small screen. Because the recordings are easy to read, this is the most popular blood pressure measuring device. It is also easier to use than the aneroid unit, and since there is no need to listen to heartbeats through the stethoscope, this is a good device for hearingimpaired patients. One disadvantage is that body movements or an irregular heart rate can change the accuracy. These units are also more expensive than the aneroid monitors.

About finger/wrist blood pressure monitors: Tests have shown that finger and/or wrist blood pressure devices are not as accurate in measuring blood pressure as other types of monitors. In addition, they are more expensive than the other monitors.

Before you measure your blood pressure: • • • •

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Rest for three to five minutes without talking before taking a measurement. Sit in a comfortable chair, with your back supported and your legs and ankles uncrossed. Sit still and place your arm, raised level with your heart, on a table or hard surface. Wrap the cuff smoothly and snugly around the upper part of your arm. The cuff should be sized to fit smoothly, while still allowing enough room for one fingertip to slip under it. Be sure the bottom edge of the cuff is at least one inch above the crease in your elbow.

It is also important, when taking blood pressure readings, that you record the date and time of day you are taking the reading, as well as the systolic and diastolic measurements. This will be important information for your physician to have. Ask your physician or another healthcare professional to teach you how to use your blood pressure monitor correctly. Have the monitor routinely checked for accuracy by taking it with you to your physician's office. It is also important to make sure the tubing is not twisted when you store it and keep it away from heat, to prevent cracks and leaks. Proper use of your blood pressure monitor will help you and your physician in monitoring your blood pressure. Click here to view the Online Resources of Non-Traumatic Emergencies

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What is the normal range of respiratory rate of less than 1 year old? In: Respiratory Rate [Edit categories] [Edit]

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30-40 breaths per minute Average respiratory range by age is given below: • • • • • • •

Newborns – Average 44 breaths per minute Infants – 20-40 breaths per minute Pre school children – 20-30 breaths per minute Older children – 16-25 breaths per minute Adults – 12-20 breaths per minute Adults during strenuous exercise – 35-45 breaths per minute Athletes peak – 60-70 breaths per minute

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