Tips On How To Properly Measure Vital Signs.

by | Jul 18, 2024 | Blog

Modern medicine has brought with it not only high tech advancements, but also more autonomy for monitoring your own health. More and more persons monitor their health in the comfort of their own homes using medical devices that were once used only in the hospital setting. Now, it is easier more than ever to use them domestically.

However, having the equipment to monitor your health can only work so well if you know how to use it properly. In this blog we will explore tips on how to properly measure your vital signs, so you can get a correct reading, which leads to a correct diagnosis and ultimately the correct intervention and/or treatment as need be. Please note that this blog is not about teaching the skills of how to perform these vital signs but rather how to measure them properly. So knowing how to perform the skill prior would be beneficial.

Vital signs are indicators to your health. They are measurements we can take that gives a snap shot of what may be right or wrong with your health. It is important because there is great significance to these tests as they are the most fundamental diagnostics any health care professional will need to assist in your health management. The main vital signs we shall discuss are – Random Blood Sugar, Blood Pressure, Temperature, Pulse, Respirations and SPO2.

Reasons For Measuring Vital Signs.

Precaution – persons may be at risk to certain chronic diseases or medical conditions due to a family history and they may take it upon themselves to monitor their vital signs to ensure they can intervene at the earliest sign of trouble.

Health Checkup – persons may engage in routine health screens at work or at outreach programs, because it is available and they know it is a good thing to do.

Starting Treatment/Program – someone may have started a fitness program or is scheduled to receive some sort of therapy and the vital signs may be checked to get a basal level. This measurement that can be referenced as the starting point, and used to see how the person responds to the program/therapy by monitoring the vital signs thereafter and comparing them with the initial one taken.

Visit to Doctor/Health Facility – most times when you visit a doctor or health facility, especially with a medical complaint, they will check your vital signs to assist in their diagnosis.

Chronic Diseases/Specific Illnesses – persons who are suffering from chronic diseases or specific illnesses may be required to check their vital signs regularly as their vital signs are more likely to be altered from the accepted normal levels. It is essentially critical for these persons to monitor their vital signs to avoid health complications, and sometimes even death.

Let’s look at the different tips for each vital sign and how to measure them properly to get the most accurate reading.

Tips to Measure Random Blood Sugar

Random Blood Sugar is the measure of glucose levels in the blood. It is important to measure in persons who have Diabetes and in persons who may have fainted or are feeling dizzy/unwell.

Ensure hands are clean before testing. As the lancet makes a very small stick, you can use the alcohol swab after sticking, instead of before, as alcohol may give an incorrect reading. Now, it should be noted that if you are wiping the area with the alcohol swab before testing, and the area dries before you stick, then you should not have any issues with the measurement that you get, so this tip would really be what you prefer.

The index finger has many nerve points and as such is the most painful to stick. The little finger is the most sensitive and the thumb is the toughest one, so the ideal fingers to stick are the two in the middle. However, the fingers must be rotated if you have to check your blood sugar on a regular basis to avoid pain and numbness.

The best time to check your blood sugar is before meals, unless otherwise instructed by your physician.

Tips To Measure Temperature

Temperature is the measure of your core body heat. It is done mostly to determine the presence of a fever.

When testing someone’s temperature, make sure all windows are closed, fans turned off and air conditioning turned off. This will ensure these devices do not cool the body down and mask an occurring fever.

When using your thermometer, always ensure it is on the appropriate setting, if necessary, for reading body temperature.

Tips To Measure Pulse

The pulse is the heart rate, felt where the blood vessel passes over a bony prominence. It is a critical vital sign as it is an indicator of whether your heart is beating or not. In emergencies, for example in cardiac arrest, the peripheral pulses (eg at your wrist) may disappear and the pulse at your neck will remain. This is to ensure the brain, the most important organ in the body, continues to get a blood supply.

Do not check the pulse with your thumb, as the thumb has a pulse on it and you may be feeling your own pulse and not that of the person you are checking.

Allow the person to rest before checking their pulse as activity can increase your heart rate and you would not get an accurate reading.

When checking the pulse, if doing it manually, do not squeeze the area, but rather firmly apply your fingers and ensure they are in the correct position.

Tips To Measure Respiration

Respiration is the movement of air in and out of the lungs – the act of breathing. It is another critical sign of life, especially during a suspected cardiac arrest.

When checking respiration, do not tell the person that you are checking their breathing, because they would exaggerate their breath and you would not get an accurate reading. Also, remember that one rise and one fall of the chest is counted as one respiration.

Tips To Measure Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure is the measure of how much force your blood flows through your blood vessels. It is another critical vital sign and persons with Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) need to monitor their blood pressure on a regular basis.

When checking someone’s blood pressure, ensure they follow the five steps below:

  • Sit straight up in the chair
  • Keep your arm at the same level with the heart
  • Keep your feet flat on the ground – do not cross your legs
  • Do not talk while the blood pressure is reading
  • Remain calm and relaxed.

As the rate of your blood flow may change quickly, having someone in a relaxed, upright position can help you attain an accurate reading. If your doctor instructed the blood pressure must be taken in a lying or standing position, then follow the doctor’s orders.

Always remember, the further away from the heart you check the blood pressure, the higher it will be – as the blood has a longer distance to return, so the ideal location to check blood pressure is on the left upper arm.

Allow the person to rest if they were walking/moving, before checking their blood pressure.

If you do get a high reading, remember blood pressure is just a snap shot of the flowing pressure at the time of measure and to get a more accurate reading check the pressure over a week, consistently at the same time and note the average reading to determine if there is an issue with your blood pressure. Pain, stress, diet, hormones, among other things, can increase your pressure, so a high reading at the time may not mean you are hypertensive. Make sure to consult a doctor.

If you have to recheck the blood pressure soon after checking it, do not inflate the cuff immediately, but rather massage the area where the cuff was initially, raise the arm overhead and wiggle, lower the arm and wiggle, to refill the arm with blood to attain an accurate reading at the second measurement.

Tips To Measure Oxygen Levels

SPO2 is the percentage of your blood saturated with oxygen. It can indicate conditions such as hypoxemia (not enough oxygen in the blood).

When checking SPO2, ensure the fingers are not cold as this may give an inaccurate reading. Massage fingers to warm them up. If the person has nail polish on their fingernails, the device will not work. If the person has no fingers or toes, you may be able to clip the device on the top of their ears and get a reading.

Thank you for reading this blog in its entirety. We do hope it brings value to you. Please share with someone who needs to know this.

Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Unsplash