Vital signs include the heart beat, breathing rate, temperature, and blood pressure. These signs may be watched, measured, and monitored to check an individual's level of physical functioning.

Normal vital signs change with age, sex, weight, exercise tolerance, and condition.

Normal vital sign ranges for the average healthy adult while resting are:

• Blood pressure: 90/60 mm/Hg to 120/80 mm/Hg
• Breathing: 12 - 18 breaths per minute
• Pulse: 60 - 100 beats per minute
• Temperature: 97.8 - 99.1 degrees Fahrenheit / average 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit

Images

Neck pulse

Review Date: 02/20/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)