When you care for someone for any length of time, you come to develop a sixth sense about their welfare. For example, you can hear the difference in how they breathe and know they are developing congestion. You see the slight change in their coloring and realize they have a fever before it’s high enough to cause any concern. You sense something is “off” about them, and often, you are correct. However, the medical community doesn’t always listen to your sixth sense, so evidence to prove what’s wrong works better for you when calling the doctor.
Monitoring Health reviews how you can compare normal to abnormal findings and helps you determine what you need to tell the doctor when you call. You can also find out about some of the helpful home monitoring devices available to track how your family member is doing, so you don’t have to go to an urgent care center just to find out what a blood sugar level might be.
Monitoring Vital Signs and Understanding the Respiratory Rate The purpose of the respiratory system is to bring in fresh oxygen and eliminate discarded carbon dioxide. If too much oxygen or carbon dioxide is in the system, the individual may show signs of confusion or mental health changes. Signs may include agitation, increased sleepiness, anxiety, …
Monitoring Vital Signs and Understanding the Pulse One of the blood’s primary functions is to carry oxygen to all body parts and remove waste products on the way back. If blood is not circulating, oxygen is not delivered where it needs to go. As a result, the body’s organs are not receiving the essential oxygen necessary …
Monitoring Vital Signs and Understanding Core Body Temperature Most people consider the average body temperature to be 98.6oF (37oC). Normal, however, is a range throughout the day based on your activity and can also be influenced by things like menstrual and sleep cycles. As a result, healthy adults’ normal body temperatures may fluctuate by …
Monitoring Your Vital Signs and Understanding Your Blood Pressure Your blood pressure has two numbers: Systolic blood pressure (top number)- The top number of the blood pressure represents the amount of pressure the heart needs to push blood out of the heart against the artery walls’ resistance when the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure …
Vital Signs Each time you call a doctor to report a concern about your family member’s health, expect a question about their blood pressure, breathing, or temperature. Vital signs tell the doctor much about what’s happening inside the patient’s body, where the eyes can’t see. The five primary vital signs combined paint a picture of …
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