1. Blood Pressure
120/70
Systolic/diastolic
Lub/dub

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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

7. 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”

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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)

17. 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

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

19. 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