Health12i TOPIC 3: Assessing Respiratory Vital Signs PDF

Health12i TOPIC 3: Assessing Respiratory Vital Signs Respiration and Vital Signs: O Vital signs are essential indicators of a person’s health, including the respiratory rate. O Objective: Understand how to assess respiration, identify normal and abnormal patterns, and recognize the fact...

Health12i TOPIC 3: Assessing Respiratory Vital Signs Respiration and Vital Signs: O Vital signs are essential indicators of a person’s health, including the respiratory rate. O Objective: Understand how to assess respiration, identify normal and abnormal patterns, and recognize the factors that influence breathing. O The respiratory system is responsible for taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. Here is a short breakdown of its anatomy: O Nose/Nasal Cavity: Air enters the respiratory system through the nose, where it is filtered, moistened, and warmed. O Pharynx (Throat): A passageway for air to the larynx. It also serves as a route for food to the esophagus. O Larynx (Voice Box): Contains the vocal cords and directs air into the trachea while preventing food from entering the windpipe. O Trachea (Windpipe): A tube that carries air to the lungs. It is lined with cilia and mucus to filter particles. O Bronchi: The trachea divides into two main bronchi, one for each lung, which then branch into smaller bronchioles. O Lungs: The primary organs of the respiratory system, where gas exchange occurs. They are made up of alveoli (tiny air sacs) that facilitate oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. O Alveoli: Small air sacs at the end of the bronchioles where oxygen enters the blood and carbon dioxide is removed. NORMAL RESPIRATORY RATE: O Infants: 40-60 breaths/min. O Children (1-10 years): 20-30 breaths/min. O Adolescents (11-18 years): 12-20 breaths/min. O Adults (18+ years): 12-20 breaths/min. O Older Adults: May have slightly higher respiratory rates due to reduced lung capacity, but also may exhibit irregular patterns in severe illness. CHARACTERISTICS OF NORMAL BREATHING: O Rate: Regular and within the normal range. O Depth: Each breath should involve normal tidal volume (the amount of air inhaled and exhaled in each breath). O Rhythm: Smooth and consistent without pauses or irregularities. O Effort: Should be easy and unlabored. O Sound: Quiet, with no wheezing, crackles, or other abnormal lung sounds. BREATHING PATTERN: O Eupnea: Normal, unlabored breathing. O Tachypnea: Rapid breathing, >20 breaths/min in adults. O Bradypnea: Slow breathing,