Let's learn exactly about the most important things that tell you about your body's well-being - your vital signs.

When you go to see a doctor, the nurse or doctor first takes your hand, checks your temperature, and checks your blood pressure , right? That's what we simply call vital signs. These are like little signals that tell us what's going on inside our bodies. So what exactly are these, why are they so important, and how are they measured correctly?

What are these vital signs?

Simply put, vital signs are measurements that measure the basic functions of your body. These can give you a good idea of ​​your general physical health. These vital signs are the first thing a doctor will look at before examining you. Do you know why? Because these measurements give the doctor important clues about certain medical conditions inside your body, or about the speed at which you are recovering from an illness.

What are the main vital signs?

There are four main biological characteristics that we all look for in our bodies. They are:

Now let's talk about this one in a little more detail.

1. Body Temperature – How hot is your body?

When we think of body temperature , the first thing that comes to mind is fever, right? Yes, body temperature is the normal temperature of our body. You may have noticed that this temperature changes when you exercise or get sick.

The average body temperature of a healthy person is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius). However, this is not the same for everyone . Some people may have a slight variation from 97.8°F (36.55°C) to 99.1°F (37.27°C). This is normal.

However, if the temperature is higher than 100.4°F (38°C), we call it a fever . Similarly, if the temperature is lower than 95°F (35°C), we call it hypothermia . Both of these are conditions to be concerned about.

2. Blood Pressure – How is the pressure?

Blood pressure, or pressure as we all know it, is the pressure that blood exerts on the walls of our blood vessels (arteries) when our heart pumps blood. This is usually expressed as two numbers.

• Top number – Systolic pressure: This refers to the pressure inside the arteries when your heart beats and pumps blood throughout the body.
• Bottom number – Diastolic pressure: This refers to the pressure inside the arteries when the heart is resting between beats.

Normal blood pressure for a healthy adult at rest should be less than 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).

3. Pulse / Heart Rate – The rhythm of the heart beating

Heart rate, or pulse rate, is the number of times your heart beats per minute . The normal resting heart rate for a healthy adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm). This can vary slightly from person to person. Women tend to have slightly higher heart rates than men.

Your heart rate is lower when you are at rest, and higher when you are exercising. This is because your heart works faster because your body needs more oxygenated blood during exercise.

4. Respiratory Rate – Breathing rate

Respiratory rate is the number of times you breathe per minute . A healthy adult breathes between 12 and 18 times per minute at rest. A resting respiratory rate of less than 12 or more than 25 breaths per minute may be a sign of a medical condition.