Checking Of Vital Sing Definition Purpose And Procedure

Definition:

Vital signs are the measurement of body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. Vital signs are indicators of one's overall health. They offer clues to diseases and help evaluate progress toward recovery. Vital signs should be taken at rest. Any abnormal findings should be repeated in order to verify the findings.All of these vital signs can be observed, measured, and monitored. This will enable the assessment of the level at which an individual is functioning. Normal ranges of measurements of vital signs change with age and medical condition.

Purpose:

• The purpose of recording vital signs is to establish a baseline on admission to a hospital, clinic, professional office, or other encounter with a health care provider.  The health care professional has the responsibility of interpreting data and identifying any abnormalities from a person's normal state, and of establishing if current treatment or medications are having the desired effect.
• Abnormalities of the heart are diagnosed by analyzing the heartbeat (or pulse) and blood pressure. The rate, rhythm and regularity of the beat are assessed, as well as the strength and tension of the beat, against the arterial wall.
• The vital signs are recorded and compared with normal ranges for a person's age and medical condition. Based on these results, a decision is made regarding further actions to be taken.
• All persons should be made comfortable and reassured that recording vital signs is normal part of health checks, and that it is necessary to ensure that the state of their health is being monitored correctly. 

Procedure Of Vital Checking :

• Body temperature

Body temperature is taken with a thermometer.In general, the normal oral temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (or 37 degrees Centigrade).The most common places to measure temperature include: 

• The mouth (oral temperature)
• Under the arm (axillary temperature)
• The anus (rectal temperature)

To record the temperature using  mercury thermometer, one should shake down the thermometer by holding it firmly at the clear end and flicking it quickly a few times, with the silver end pointing downward.   who is taking the temperature should confirm that the alcohol or mercury is below a normal body temperature.

To record an axillary temperature, the silver tip of the thermometer should be placed under the right armpit. The arm clamps the thermometer into place, against the chest. The thermometer should stay in place for three to four minutes. After the appropriate time has elapsed, the thermometer should be removed and held at eye level. During this waiting period, the body temperature will be measured The mercury will have risen to a mark that indicates the temperature of a person.

To record an oral temperature, the axillary procedure should be followed, except that the silver tip of the thermometer should be placed beneath the tongue for three to four minutes, then read as described previously.

In both cases, the thermometer should be wiped clean with an antiseptic and stored in an appropriate container to prevent breakage.

To record a rectal temperature, a rectal thermometer should be shaken down, as described previously. A small amount of water-based lubricant should be placed on the colored tip of the thermometer. Infants must be placed on their stomachs and held securely in place. The tip of the thermometer is inserted into the rectum no more than 0.5 in (1.3 cm) and held there for two to three minutes. The thermometer is removed, read as before, and wiped with an antibacterial wipe. It is then stored in an appropriate container to prevent breakage, because ingestion of mercury can be fatal.

• Pulse rate and rhythm

Checking  pulse rate is counting the number of times your beats in a minute. Pulse checks can be taken at the wrist (radial pulse) or at the neck (carotid pulse). Do not use your thumb; instead use your index and middle fingers. A resting adult heart rate should be between 60 and 90 beats a minute, average is 72 beat a minute.  Athletes may have lower rates. Children, depending on their age, will have higher pulse rates. 

• Respiratory rate

Checking  respiratory rate is counting the number of times take a breath in a minute. The best time to check the respiratory rate is at rest. To do this, count the number of times the chest rises for one full minute while breathing normally. The normal adult rate is 16 to 20 breaths per minute. Children breathe faster.

• Blood pressure

 The average blood pressure is 120 millimeters of mercury (systolic-the upper number), over 80 millimeters of mercury (diastolic-the lower number). A resting blood pressure of over 90 diastolic is considered mildly elevated; over 100 may require treatment.

If the blood pressure is monitored manually, a cuff is placed level with the heart and wrapped firmly but not tightly around the arm one inch above the elbow over the brachial artery. Wrinkles in the cuff should be smoothed out. Positioning a stethoscope over the brachial artery in front of the elbow with one hand and listening through the earpieces, the cuff is inflated well above normal levels (to about 200 mmHg), or until no sound is heard. Alternatively, the cuff should be inflated 10 mm Hg above the last sound heard. The valve in the pump is slowly opened. Air is allowed to escape no faster than 5 mmHg per second to deflate the pressure in the cuff to the point where a clicking sound is heard over the brachial artery. The reading of the gauge at this point is recorded as the systolic pressure.

The sounds continue as the pressure in the cuff is released and the flow of blood through the artery is no longer blocked. At this point, the noises are no longer heard. The reading of the gauge at this point is noted as the diastolic pressure. "Lub-dub" is the sound produced by the normal heart as it beats. Every time this sound is detected, it means that the heart is contracting once. The noises are created when the heart valves click to close. When one hears "lub," the atrioventricular valves are closing. The "dub" sound is produced by the pulmonic and aortic valves.

Asthma Definition Causes Symptoms Diagnosis And Medication Of Asthama

Definition:

Asthma is a disease affecting the airways that carry air to and from lungs. People who suffer from this chronic condition (long-lasting or recurrent) are said to be asthmatic.The inside walls of an asthmatic's airways are swollen or inflamed. This swelling or inflammation makes the airways extremely sensitive to irritations and increases susceptibility to an allergic reaction.As inflammation causes the airways to become narrower, less air can pass through them, both to and from the lungs.  Asthma is Incurable disease.

Causes Asthma:

The exact cause of asthma isn't known. Researchers think some genetic and environmental factors interact to cause asthma. These factors include:

• An inherited tendency to develop allergies, called atopy.
• Parents who have asthma.
• Certain respiratory infections during childhood.
• Contact with some airborne allergens or exposure to some viral infections in infancy or in early childhood when the immune system is developing. 

Symptoms:

• Coughin
• Wheezing (a hissing sound while breathing)
• Chest tightness
• Breathing problems( Shortness of breath.) 

 Causes of Asthma Symptoms To Occur:

Many things can trigger or worsen asthma symptoms.  Triggers can include:

• Allergens from dust, animal fur, cockroaches, mold, and pollens from trees, grasses, and flowers
• Irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, chemicals or dust in the workplace, compounds in home décor products, and sprays (such as hairspray).
• Medicines such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and nonselective beta-blockers
• Sulfites in foods and drinks
• Viral upper respiratory infections, such as colds
• Physical activity, including exercise

Diagnosis:

• Allergy testing to find out which allergens affect .
• A test to measure how sensitive airways are. This is called a bronchoprovocation (brong-KO-prav-eh-KA-shun) test. Using spirometry, this test repeatedly measures  lung function during physical activity or after  receive increasing doses of cold air or a special chemical to breathe in.
• A chest x ray or an EKG (electrocardiogram). These tests will help find out whether a foreign object in airways.

Medication Of Asthama:

Medications used to treat asthma are divided into two general classes: quick-relief medications used to treat acute symptoms; and long-term control medications used to prevent further exacerbation.

• Short acting beta2-adrenoceptor agonists (SABA), such as salbutamol are the first line treatment for asthma symptoms.
• Anticholinergic medications, such as ipratropium bromide, provide additional benefit when used in combination with SABA in those with moderate or severe symptoms.Anticholinergic bronchodilators can also be used if a person cannot tolerate a SABA
• Older, less selective adrenergic agonists, such as inhaled epinephrine, have similar efficacy to SABAs.
• Glucocorticoids are generally considered the most effective treatment available for long term control.Inhaled forms are usually used except in the case of severe persistent disease, in which oral steroids may be needed.It is usually recommended that inhaled formulations be used once or twice daily, depending on the severity of symptoms.
• Long acting beta-adrenoceptor agonists (LABA) have at least a 12-hour effect. The FDA has issued a public health advisory recommending that these drugs should not be used without an accompanying steroid due to an increased risk of severe symptoms, including severe exacerbation of asthma in both children and adults.
• Leukotriene antagonists (such as zafirlukast) are an alternative to inhaled glucocorticoids, but are usually not preferred. They may also be used in addition to inhaled glucocorticoids but in this role are second line to LABA.
• Mast cell stabilizers (such as cromolyn sodium) are another non-preferred alternative to glucocorticoids.
• Medications are typically provided as metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) in combination with an asthma spacer or as a dry powder inhaler. The spacer is a plastic cylinder that mixes the medication with air, making it easier to receive a full dose of the drug. A nebulizer may also be used. Nebulizers and spacers are equally effective in those with mild to moderate symptoms however insufficient evidence is available to determine whether or not a difference exists in those severe symptomatology.

When asthma is unresponsive to usual medications, other options are available for both emergency management and prevention of flareups. For emergency management other options include:

• Oxygen is used to alleviate hypoxia if saturations fall below 92%.
• Magnesium sulfate intravenous treatment has been shown to provide a bronchodilating effect when used in addition to other treatment in severe acute asthma attacks.
• Heliox, a mixture of helium and oxygen, may also be considered in severe unresponsive cases.
• Intravenous salbutamol is not supported by available evidence and is thus used only in extreme cases.
• Methylxanthines (such as theophylline) were once widely used, but do not add significantly to the effects of inhaled beta-agonists.
• The dissociative anesthetic ketamine is theoretically useful if intubation and mechanical ventilation is needed in people who are approaching respiratory arrest.