Vital Signs

Abstract

Pulse, respiration, temperature, and blood pressure or “vital signs” are routinely performed as part of the cardiovascular assessment and considered the earliest objective fundamental aspect of the physical examination. The term “vital signs” specifies the presence of those bodily functions considered an essential component of life. These signs are historically important to recognize and provide important insights into methods and techniques for diagnosing various disease states. These objective findings along with other key components assist clinicians in narrowing the differential diagnosis or determining the cause of the underlying disease. Included in this discussion are signs found in patients with hyperthyroidism as detected by blood pressure and temperature as well as bleeding disorders that may be surreptitiously discovered when blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer cuff. Additionally, some of these signs may be clinically useful providing important insights into potential mechanisms of disease. Thus, it is important that clinicians learn how to properly perform, identify, and apply these signs. Included in this chapter on vital signs is a brief historical background of the person who described the sign, the sign as originally described, and if available, the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the signs.