Teach me normal vitals
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adult normal vital signs heart rate respiratory rate blood pressure temperature official clinical reference
Normal vital signs
Vital signs are basic measures of how the body is functioning:
| Vital sign | Typical resting adult range | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 36.5-37.3°C (97.7-99.1°F) | Body heat regulation |
| Pulse / heart rate | 60-100 beats/min | How fast the heart beats |
| Respiratory rate | 12-18 breaths/min | How fast a person breathes |
| Blood pressure | About 90/60 to 120/80 mmHg | Pressure in the arteries |
| Oxygen saturation, SpO₂ | Usually 95-100% on room air | Amount of oxygen carried in blood |
These are resting ranges for an average healthy adult, summarized by MedlinePlus.
How to remember
T-P-R-BP-O₂
- Temperature: 37°C
- Pulse: 60-100/min
- Respirations: 12-18/min
- BP: roughly 120/80 mmHg or lower, but not below about 90/60 in a well person
- O₂: 95% or higher
Important points
- Measure when the person has been resting, ideally for several minutes.
- Exercise, anxiety, pain, fever, medications, pregnancy, age, and chronic disease can change readings.
- Children normally have faster pulse and breathing rates than adults. For example, newborn breathing is often 30-60/min, whereas it is 12-20/min from adolescence onward.
- One isolated abnormal value does not diagnose a disease. Trends and the person’s symptoms matter. Clinical texts emphasize that changing or persistently abnormal vital signs can signal deterioration.
Common terms
- Tachycardia: heart rate over 100/min in an adult
- Bradycardia: heart rate below 60/min
- Tachypnea: unusually fast breathing
- Fever: generally temperature ≥38°C (100.4°F)
- Hypotension: low blood pressure, often considered <90/60 mmHg
- Hypertension: persistently elevated blood pressure, assessed using repeated standardized measurements, not one reading
Seek urgent care for severe breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, blue lips, fainting, or markedly abnormal vital signs with illness symptoms.
Quiz me on normal adult vital-sign ranges
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Question 1 of 5
What is the normal resting adult heart rate range?
A. 30-50 beats/min
B. 60-100 beats/min
C. 100-140 beats/min
D. 120-160 beats/min
B. 60-100 beats/min
C. 100-140 beats/min
D. 120-160 beats/min
Reply with A, B, C, or D.
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