MONITORING YOUR VITALS; A LIFESTYLE TO UPHOLD.
A healthy lifestyle is equal to a lengthened lifespan. Good habits, positive attitudes, and beneficial life choices are key to longevity. Upholding a healthy lifestyle is not challenging, nor does it demand severe work. It is simply developing practical habits and attitudes that improve your standard of living and keep diseases at arm’s length.
According to research conducted in 2018 by WHO country profile, Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) accounted for an evaluated 29% of all deaths in Nigeria with cardiovascular diseases as t,he principal cause of death(11%), tracked by cancers(4%), chronic respiratory diseases(2%) and diabetes(1%). Facts show the causes of these diseases are neglect of medical vitals or vital signs and poor health choices. In that light, vital signs are notable medical signs of the body that indicates the status of the body’s fundamental functions.
There are five namable vital signs:
• Body temperature
• Blood Pressure
• Blood Glucose Level
• Pulse(Heart rate)
• Breathing rate(Respiratory
• They are medically notated as BT, BP, BGL, HR, RR.
• Other vitals include; Pain, Menstrual Cycle, Oxygen Saturation, and Blood Glucose level.
Body Temperature(BT): Body Temperature is one of the four main vital signs that must be monitored to guarantee safe and sufficient care. Surveilling the body’s temperature is applied in most healthcare environments but methods and techniques vary. It is requisite to involve adequate methods and techniques to maintain accurate reading. Inaccurate readings can affect diagnosis and treatment that can compromise a patient’s health. Monitoring your Body Temperature frequently identifies the equality of heat generated and heat lost which stabilizes body temperature. Body Temperature is measured in degrees with the aid of a thermometer.
Blood Pressure(BP): The measurement of the force in your arteries as the heart pumps is identified as blood pressure measurement. Blood pressure can be too low (Hypotension) or too high (Hypertension). Hypertension, High Blood Pressure shows little to no symptoms and is more common compared to Hypotension. One citable cause of Cardiovascular disease is hypertension, it was recorded as the catalyst of deaths in Nigeria in 2018 by WHO. Constant blood pressure measurement assists clinical professionals in diagnosing and tackling hypertension early to prevent chronic diseases.
Pulse(Heart rate): Pulse rate is the measurement of the heart rate or the number of times the heart beats per minute. (John Hopkins Medicine). Taking a pulse not only measures the heart rate but can also indicate; heart rhythm and strength of the heart. Monitoring your heart rate can define your fitness status and lower the chance of mental and physical exhaustion.
Breathing rate(respiratory): Respiration rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute. An increase in respiratory rates may root from fever, sickness, and other medical ailments. Respiratory rates are best measured when a person is at rest. It applies to counting the number of breaths per minute by counting how many times the chest rises. It is crucial to note whether a person has a complication in breathing.
Monitoring your vitals plays a critical role in a patient’s health and clinical outcomes. Routine observation allows medical experts and patients to detect changes in condition and avert damage or misstep that may surface.