Blood Pressure 120/70 Systolic/diastolic Lub/dub

Factors that effect blood pressure Peripheral resistance - amount of friction the blood encounters as it moves through the blood vessels Volume of blood Viscosity of blood Diameter of blood vessels

Factors that effect blood pressure Autonomic nervous system (involuntary part) never in brain / heart Vasoconstriction b/c of cold Standing up too fast, pooling of blood in the legs & feet decreases b/p activates pressoreceptors in large arteries of chest, cause b/p to increase Decreased volume (hemorrhage) Exercise & fight or flight

Factors that effect blood pressure Kidneys alter blood volume When b/p goes up, water loss is increased When b/p goes down, water is conserved Low b/p causes kidneys to release Renin which causes vasoconstriction

Factors that effect blood pressure Temperature Cold is vasoconstricting Heat is vasodilating Cold compresses vs. hot compresses

Factors that effect blood pressure Chemicals Epinephrine, caffeine and nicotine increase b/p via vasoconstriction Alcohol and histamine decrease b/p via vasodilation Salt causes kidneys to retain water, increases blood volume ibuprophen

Factors that effect blood pressure Anti depressants and oral contraceptives raise b/p Antacids raise b/p because the contain salt Cocaine raises b/p Prescription pain killers like Percocet, Vicodin Anti anxiety agents & “sleeping pills”

Pulse Points Temporal Facial Carotoid Apical Brachial Radial Femoral Popliteal Posterior tibial Dorsalis pedis

Pulse Rate Average rate for teens and adults is 60 – 100 bpm Sit quietly for a minute Use two fingers to feel for a pulse in your neck Count beats for one minute

Pulse Quality Pulse should be regular Pulses that are too ‘strong’ are called bounding Pulses that are too ‘weak’ are called thready

Factors that increase heart rate Exercise short term Deyhdration Fear, anger, anxiety and pain Heat (7 beats per degree) Age (decreases to adulthood) Gender (faster in females) Caffeine, cocaine, stimulants (ADHD meds) cough syrup, energy drinks, Sudaphed

Factors that decrease heart rate Exercise long term Cold Anti anxiety agents, prescription pain killers, “sleeping pills”, antihistamines Significant blood loss diuretics

Respiration Rates Respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute Normal rate is between 15 – 20 breaths per minute Anything below 12(at rest) or over 25 is considered abnormal

Factors that Increase Respiration Rate Low blood pH Elevated body temperature Pain Exercise Airway resistance (asthma) Low blood O2 High blood CO2 Anxiety Fear Age – infancy gender– higher in females Cold temperatures Caffeine / energy drinks After eating Nicotine Amphetamines sudaphed

Factors that Decrease Respiration Rates head injuries Deep sleep Sedatives Alcohol Anti anxiety agents Extreme cold High blood pH High blood O2 Age – older adults Gender - males

Body Temperature Normal body temperature can range from 97.8° F (or Fahrenheit, equivalent to 36.5° C, or Celsius) to 99° F (37.2° C) for a healthy adult by mouth. Temperatures taken rectally (using a glass or digital thermometer) tend to be 0.5 to 0.7° F higher Temperatures taken axillary (using a glass or digital thermometer)tend to be 0.3 to 0.4° F lower Temperatures can also be taken on the forehead, behind the ear and in the ear (most reliable – body core temp)

Factors that Increase Body Temperature Infection / fever Exercise Elevated external temperatures Hypertension Ovulation in females Drinking hot beverages Emotions (anger) Stress Age – infants Thyroid disorders

Factors that Decrease Body Temperature Sleep Thyroid disorders Cardiovascular disorders Cold external temperatures Drinking cold beverages Alcohol Age – older adults Age – older adults

O2 Saturation Also called pulse oximetry Measure of how much Oxygen the blood is carrying as a percentage of how much it could be carrying Ranges from 95% - 100% Respiratory disorders like COPD, asthma, or pneumonia can cause O2 sats to be low Blocked airways, anemia, blood loss can also cause O2 sats to be decreased