Understanding Vital Signs: A Clinical Perspective

 Vital signs provide immediate, objective insights into a patient’s physiological status and are often the earliest indicators of deterioration or underlying pathology. As healthcare professionals, accurate measurement and interpretation of these parameters is essential for guiding assessment and clinical decision-making.

📊 The Five Core Vital Signs & Their Clinical Significance

🔹 Body Temperature 🌡️

- Normal Range: 36.5–37.5°C

- Clinical Relevance:

✅ Hyperthermia (>38°C) → Indicates infection, inflammation, heatstroke or systemic conditions.

✅ Hypothermia (<35°C) → Can result from exposure, metabolic disorders, or severe shock.

- Key Considerations:

- Peripheral vs. core temperature variations

- Febrile response in immunocompromised patients

🔹 Pulse / Heart Rate ❤️

- Normal Range: 60–100 bpm (Resting)

- Clinical Relevance:

✅ Tachycardia (>100 bpm) → Associated with fever, dehydration, hypoxia, pain, sepsis, cardiac arrhythmias.

- ✅ Bradycardia (<60 bpm) → Seen in athletes, vagal stimulation, hypothyroidism, heart block.

- Key Considerations:

- Rhythm assessment for irregularities (AF, ectopics)

- Pulse deficit (difference between auscultated and palpated pulse)

🔹 Blood Pressure 💉

- Normal Range: Systolic 100–140 mmHg / Diastolic 60–90 mmHg

- Clinical Relevance:

✅ Hypertension (>140/90 mmHg) → Risk factor for stroke, MI, renal disease.

✅ Hypotension (<90/60 mmHg) → May indicate shock, haemorrhage, dehydration.

- Key Considerations:

- Postural BP changes (orthostatic hypotension)

- BP variability in older adults & chronic conditions

🔹 Respiratory Rate 🫁

- Normal Range: 12–20 breaths per minute

- Clinical Relevance:

✅ Tachypnoea (>20 bpm) → Seen in respiratory distress, metabolic acidosis, sepsis, PE.

✅ Bradypnoea (<12 bpm) → Occurs in CNS depression, narcotic overdose.

- Key Considerations:

- Importance of pattern & effort (e.g., Cheyne-Stokes, Kussmaul respiration)

- Work of breathing (accessory muscle use, paradoxical movements)

🔹 Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂) 📟

- Normal Range: 95–100%

- Clinical Relevance:

✅ Hypoxaemia (<90%) → Suggests respiratory failure, cardiac disease, or impaired gas exchange.

✅ Oxygen toxicity (>100% on supplemental O₂) → Can contribute to hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD.

- Key Considerations:

- Accuracy in peripheral vasoconstriction (Raynaud's, hypoperfusion)

- Use of ABGs in suspected Type 2 respiratory failure (high CO₂ levels)

💡 Key Takeaway

Vital signs are foundational assessments that guide clinical reasoning and intervention. Small deviations from normal may signal early physiological compromise—making continuous monitoring essential in acute care and chronic disease management.

💭 What clinical situations have you encountered where vital signs provided early clues to an underlying condition? Let’s discuss below! 👇

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