Vital signs are measurements of the bodys most basic functions, which reflect essential body functions and are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and health care providers include the following:

• Body temperature: This is the measurement of the bodys internal temperature. The normal range for adults is 97.8°F to 99.1°F (36.5°C to 37.3°C), with an average of 98.6°F (37°C) .

• Pulse rate: This is the measurement of the heart rate, or the number of times the heart beats per minute. The normal pulse rate for healthy adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.

• Respiration rate: This is the measurement of the rate of breathing, or the number of breaths taken per minute. The normal range for healthy adults is 12 to 18 breaths per minute.

• Blood pressure: This is the measurement of the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure: the higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure when the heart beats, and the lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure when the heart rests between beats. The normal range for healthy adults is between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg.

Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere[[2]](https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentID=P00866&Conte...