Vital Checks

Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and health care providers include the following:

• Body temperature
• Pulse rate
• Respiration rate (rate of breathing)
• Blood pressure (Blood pressure is not considered a vital sign, but is often measured along with the vital signs.)

Vital signs are useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems. Vital signs can be measured in a medical setting, at home, at the site of a medical emergency, or elsewhere.

Vital signs are measurements of your body’s most basic functions. Typically, medical professionals take these measurements to help evaluate a person’s overall physical health, but they are also critical components in detecting possible diseases, monitoring medical conditions and showing signs of progress or recovery.