Questions and Answers
What is dyspnea?
Difficult or painful breathing
What is hyperpyrexia?
An exceptionally high fever
What is brachycardia?
A slow heart rate of fewer than 60 beats per minute
What is tachycardia?
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What does afebrile mean?
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What are rales?
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What is a stethoscope used for?
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What is diastolic pressure?
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What is systolic pressure?
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What is hyperpnea?
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What does apical refer to in terms of pulse?
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What is orthostatic hypotension?
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What is hypertension?
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What is hypotension?
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What does calibrate mean in a medical context?
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What is the antecubital space?
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What are rhonchi?
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An adult will have his height measured once a year.
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A patient is febrile if her body temperature is above normal.
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On a Fahrenheit scale, the normal oral temperature of a healthy adult is about 98.6.
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A patient with tachypnea breathes slowly.
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A tympanic temperature is taken in the ear canal.
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A tympanic thermometer measures the temperature of a patient's tympanic membrane.
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You should measure an adult's pulse at the radial artery.
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The temporal artery is located at the side of the neck.
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A sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure.
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Using the palpatory method, a medical assistant can take an estimate of a patient's systolic blood pressure before measuring it exactly.
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The axilla is the armpit.
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Auscultated blood pressure is determined by palpation.
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Hypertension is known as low blood pressure.
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Body temperature is affected by numerous factors, including weight.
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BMI is calculated by what?
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What would you likely expect with a patient's blood pressure who has started taking medication for hypertension since his last visit?
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What are normal vital signs for a 65 year old?
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What special OSHA precautions must be taken when getting vital signs for a patient with open lesions?
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What would most likely cause rales?
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Blood pressure and pulse are taken in different positions to assess for what?
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What is generally not a health problem?
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What is the best way to weigh a toddler?
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What is an internal factor that affects blood pressure?
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On the top, movable bar of the height scale, the numbers ______ as you go down the bar.
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To ensure proper size cuff when taking blood pressure, the bladder inside the cuff should encircle ______ to ______ of the distance around the arm or leg being used.
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Respiration that occurs at an excessive rate and depth are called what?
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Severe __________ is often associated with shock.
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A person's axillary temperature is usually about 1% lower than a _______ temperature.
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The eardrum is a location to measure body temperature because it has the same blood supply as the ______.
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If the pulse is high, the ____ rate is also likely to be high.
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Name four vital signs.
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Match the following phases with their description of blood pressure sounds:
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Study Notes
Vital Signs and Measurements
- Dyspnea: Refers to difficult or painful breathing, indicating potential respiratory issues.
- Hyperpyrexia: Signifies an exceptionally high fever, often a symptom of serious illness.
- Brachycardia: Describes a slow heart rate, fewer than 60 beats per minute, which may indicate underlying health problems.
- Tachycardia: Indicates a fast heart rate, exceeding 100 beats per minute, often caused by stress or medical conditions.
- Afebrile: Denotes a normal body temperature, significant for assessing fever.
- Rales: Crackling sounds in the lungs, indicating the presence of fluid, often associated with conditions like pneumonia.
- Stethoscope: An instrument used to amplify internal body sounds for diagnostic purposes.
- Diastolic Pressure: Blood pressure measurement taken when the heart relaxes, providing insight into vascular health.
- Systolic Pressure: Blood pressure measurement when the left ventricle contracts, crucial in assessing heart function.
- Hyperpnea: Characterized by deep, rapid breathing, which can occur during intense exercise or stress.
- Apical Pulse: The pulse measured at the apex of the heart, providing insight into heart performance.
- Orthostatic Hypotension: A condition noted by an increase in pulse rate (over 10 bpm) and a decrease in blood pressure (over 20 points) when changing positions.
- Hypertension: Refers to high blood pressure, a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
- Hypotension: Indicates low blood pressure, which may cause dizziness or fainting.
- Calibrate: The process of ensuring an instrument is measuring accurately, essential for reliable diagnostics.
- Antecubital Space: The bend of the elbow, frequently used for blood pressure measurements.
- Rhonchi: Deep, snoring sounds indicating possible partial airway obstruction, which can suggest respiratory issues.
- Febrile: Having a body temperature above the normal range, often a sign of infection.
- Sphygmomanometer: A cuffed device for measuring blood pressure, crucial for hypertension management.
- Temporal Scanner: A device that measures a person's temperature via the forehead, providing quick assessments.
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Vital Signs Assessment:
- Adults should have weight, head circumference, and height measured annually.
- A febrile patient has a higher-than-normal body temperature.
- Normal oral temperature for a healthy adult is approximately 98.6°F.
- Tachypnea indicates rapid breathing, not slow.
- Tympanic temperature can be taken in the ear canal.
- Pulse is typically measured at the radial artery for adults.
- Temporal artery evaluation occurs on the side of the forehead, not the neck.
- BMI Calculation: Involves measuring height and weight for assessing body composition.
- Blood Pressure Changes: An adult on hypertensive medication may show lower blood pressure at follow-ups.
- OSHA Precautions: Wearing gloves and practicing hand hygiene is essential for patients with open lesions.
- Rales: Often caused by illnesses such as influenza, indicating fluid in the lungs.
- Orthostatic Hypotension Symptoms: Evaluating blood pressure and pulse in different positions is critical.
- General Health Perspective: Hypotension is usually not a significant health issue unless symptomatic.
- Weighing Toddlers: The best method is to weigh them together with a parent and subtract the weight of the parent.
- Blood Viscosity: An internal factor that influences blood pressure, alongside lifestyle factors.
- Scale Movements: As you lower the movable bar on a height scale, the numbers decrease.
- Blood Pressure Cuff Sizing: The bladder should encircle 80% to 100% of the arm or leg being used.
- Hyperventilation: Occurs with excessive respiratory rates and depth.
- Severe Hypotension: Often associated with shock, requiring immediate medical attention.
- Temperature Comparison: Axillary temperatures are typically about 1% lower than oral measurements.
- Hypothalamus: Shares blood supply with the eardrum, making it an effective temperature measurement site.
- Respiration Correlation: High pulse rates typically accompany increased respiration rates.
- Four Vital Signs: Include temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.
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Auscultatory Phases:
- Phase I: Initial tapping representing systolic pressure.
- Phase II: Softer sounds that may fade.
- Phase III: Resumption of clear tapping.
- Phase IV: Transition to muffled sounds.
- Phase V: Total disappearance of sound representing diastolic pressure.
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Description
Test your knowledge of vital signs and their significance in medical assessments. This quiz covers key terms like dyspnea, tachycardia, and the use of a stethoscope. Understanding these concepts is essential for both medical professionals and students.
