VITAL SIGNS

Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The four main
vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and health care
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.

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 can range from 97.8 degrees F
(or Fahrenheit, equivalent to 36.5 degrees C, or Celsius) to 99 degrees F
(37.2 degrees C) for a healthy adult. A person's body temperature can be taken
in any of the following ways:
 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 degrees 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 degrees F lower than those temperatures taken by mouth.
 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).
 By skin. A special thermometer can quickly measure the temperature of
the skin on the forehead.
Body temperature may be abnormal due to fever (high temperature)
or hypothermia (low temperature). A fever is indicated when body
temperature rises about one degree or more over the normal
temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the American
 Academy of Family Physicians. Hypothermia is defined as a drop in body
temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

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 adult 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.

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 neck, on
the inside of the elbow, or at the wrist. For most people, it is easiest to take the
pulse at the wrist. If you use the lower neck, be sure not to press too hard, and
never press on the pulses on both sides of the lower neck at the same time to
prevent blocking blood flow to the brain. 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.
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 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 12 to 16

breaths per minute.

Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls
during contraction and relaxation of the heart. Each time the heart beats, it
pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart
contracts. When the heart relaxes, the blood pressure falls.

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" (millimetres of mercury). This recording represents how
high the mercury column in an old-fashioned manual blood pressure device
(called a mercury manometer or sphygmomanometer) is raised by the pressure
of the blood. Today, your doctor's office is more likely to use a simple dial for
this measurement.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of heart attack,
heart failure, and stroke. 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.

Blood pressure is categorized as normal, elevated, or stage 1 or stage 2 high

blood pressure:

 Normal blood pressure is systolic of less than 120 and diastolic of less
than 80 (120/80)
 Elevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than
80
 Stage 1 high blood pressure is systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic between
80 to 89
 Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or the
diastolic is 90 or higher

These numbers should be used as a guide only. A single blood pressure

measurement that is higher than normal is not necessarily an indication of a
problem. Your doctor will want to see multiple blood pressure measurements
over several days or weeks before making a diagnosis of high blood pressure
and starting treatment. Ask your provider when to contact him or her if your
blood pressure readings are not within the normal range.

DISEASES
A disease is a sickness that occurs when there is an upset or breakdown in
the way the body usually functions.

LIFESTYLE/HYPOKINETIC DISEASES
[Link]

2. HYPERTENSION

3. OBESITY

4. OSTEOPOROSIS

5. CORONARY HEART DISEASE (CHD)

6. BACK PAIN

1. DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic (long-lasting) health condition that affects how your
body turns food into energy.
 Your body breaks down most of the food you eat into sugar (glucose) and
releases it into your bloodstream. When your blood sugar goes up, it signals
your pancreas to release insulin. Insulin acts like a key to let the blood sugar
into your body’s cells for use as energy.

With diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it as well as
it should. When there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin,
too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause
serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

There isn’t a cure yet for diabetes, but losing weight, eating healthy food, and
being active can really help. Other things you can do to help:

 Take medicine as prescribed.

 Get diabetes self-management education and support.
 Make and keep health care appointments.

Types of Diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational
diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).

Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an autoimmune reaction (the
body attacks itself by mistake). This reaction stops your body from making
insulin. Approximately 5-10% of the people who have diabetes have type 1.
Type 1 diabetes can be diagnosed at any age, and symptoms often develop
quickly. If you have type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin every day to
survive. Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes
With type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t use insulin well and can’t keep
blood sugar at normal levels. About 90-95% of people with diabetes have type
2. It develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults (but more and
more in children, teens, and young adults). You may not notice any symptoms,
so it’s important to get your blood sugar tested if you’re at risk. Type 2 diabetes
can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as:

 Losing weight.
 Eating healthy food.
 Being active.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women who have never had diabetes.
If you have gestational diabetes, your baby could be at higher risk for health
problems. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after your baby is born.
However, it increases your risk for type 2 diabetes later in life. Your baby is
more likely to have obesity as a child or teen and develop type 2 diabetes later
in life.

CAUSES OF DIABETES MELLITUS

 Genetic Factor

 Obesity

 Unhealthy Life Style

 Stress

 Hyper tension

 Smoking

 Over eating

 Lack of Physical Exercise

SYMPTOMS
 Frequent urination

 Blurred vision

 Fatigue

 Nausea

 Frequent infection

 Slow healing wounds

 Excess sweating

 Weight loss

 Breath smells like nail polish

 MANAGEMENT
 Life style modification

 Appropriate diet

 Regular physical activity

 Meditation if required

 Maintenance of body weight

2. HYPERTENSION
Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a long-term medical
condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated.
High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. It is, however, a major
risk factor for stroke, coronary artery disease, heart failure, atrial
fibrillation, peripheral arterial disease, vision loss, chronic kidney disease,
and dementia. Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.

 An estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 years worldwide have

hypertension, most (two-thirds) living in low- and middle-income
countries.
 An estimated 46% of adults with hypertension are unaware that they have
the condition.
 Less than half of adults (42%) with hypertension are diagnosed and
treated.
 Approximately 1 in 5 adults (21%) with hypertension have it under
control.
 Hypertension is a major cause of premature death worldwide.
 One of the global targets for noncommunicable diseases is to reduce the
prevalence of hypertension by 33% between 2010 and 2030.

CAUSES
 Sedentary lifestyle

 Obesity

 Increased age
 Stress

 Genetic Factor

 Excessive alcohol

 Tobacco

 High cholesterol

 Diabetes

 High intake of salt

 Low calcium& potassium in food

SYMPTOMS
 Muscle cramp

 Weakness

 Frequent urination

 Rapid or irregular heart beat

MANAGEMENT
 Meditation

 Pranayama

 Savasana

 Lose weight

 Sufficient sleep

 Quit smoking

 Healthy diet

 Reduce salt intake

 Cut down alcohol

  Regular physical activity

3. OBESITY
Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat
accumulation that may impair health.
Body mass index (BMI) is a simple index of weight-for-height that is
commonly used to classify overweight and obesity in adults. It is defined as a
person's weight in kilograms divided by the square of his height in meters
(kg/m2).

Factors contributing to obesity

[Link] Familial tendency
2. Environmental i. Sex Women more susceptible
ii. Activity Lack of physical activity
iii. Psychogenic Emotional
deprivation/depression
iv. Alcohol Drinking Problem
v. Smoking Smoking cessation
3. Drugs e.g. Antipsychotic drugs

CAUSES
 Genetic 40-80% if both the parents are obese
 Food habit
 Increase in the number and size of fat cells in the body.
 Sedentary life style
 Mal function of endocrine glands (pituitary, thyroid)
MANAGEMENT
 Healthy diet
 Surgery
 Medication
 Life style modification
 Appropriate physical activity
4. OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is a disease where increased bone weakness increases the
risk of a broken bone. It is the most common reason for a broken bone among
the elderly.
CAUSE
 Sedentary life
 Smoking
 Sex hormones infrequent menstrual cycles and oestrogen loss
 Lack of calcium & Vitamin D
 Genetic factor women are more prone to osteoporosis
 Low body weight
 Body size small, thin bonded women are at greater risk
 Lack of appropriate exercise
MANAGEMENT
 Medication
 Strength training
 Avoid smoking
 Avoid alcohol
 Improve nutrition
 Calcium supplementation
 Consumption of vitamin D
 Hormone replacement therapy

[Link] HEART DISEASE (CHD)

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a narrowing of the small blood vessels
that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. CHD is also called coronary artery
disease
CAUSE
 CHD is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries to your heart
SYMPTOMS
 Chest pain or discomfort
 Fatigue
 Shortness of breath
 General weakness
[Link]
Arthritis is a disease that causes damage in your joints. Joints are places
in your body where two bones meet.
FITNESS ASSESSMENT
1. Cardio respiratory function -12 min run or walk test (Cooper test)
2. Body composition - skin fold test
4. Abdominal muscular test - modified sit up
5. Flexibility - sit and reach test
6. Muscular strength hand grip strength/ grip - dynamo meter test