Your weight and good nutrition are not the only indicators of good health.  Today, I will cover some vital signs that will give you a clearer picture of your health condition.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, there are 4 vital signs that show the general health of a person:

• Pulse
• Respiratory rate
• Body temperature
• Blood pressure

When you go to your doctor and in the hospital, these are measured and assessed. Some pharmacies have blood pressure monitors in the waiting area, as well as blood pressure cuffs and thermometers that you can use at home.  For more information on how to get these measurements or take them yourself, ask your physician or pharmacist.  The Hopkins website, also, provides this information. I recommend that you review it.

John Hopkins Medicine Vital Signs

 Normal measures for these vital signs are:

Vital Sign	Normal
Pulse	60-100 beats per minute (Some athletes and runners may have a lower pulse near 40 beats per minute.)
Respiratory Rate	12-16 breaths per minute
Body Temperature	97.8oF – 99oF
Blood Pressure	Less than or equal to 120/80

 

Here are a few simple steps to check your pulse from Medical News Today

Using your wrist:

1. Turn one hand over with your palm facing up.
2. Using your other hand, place two fingertips side-by-side gently in the groove on the forearm, down from the fold of the wrist and within an inch along from the base of the thumb.
3. When the position is right, you should feel the pulsation of your heartbeat.

 

To check your respiratory rate, count the number of breaths for 15 seconds and multiply that number by 4.

We will talk about some of these vital signs more in later topics. If you find that your vital signs are frequently outside of the range of normal, have a conversation with your physician. Let’s learn, be better informed, make better decisions, and achieve the good health that we need to live our best lives. I welcome your comments and look forward to hearing from you. Have a marvalous day!