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Nursing Vocab
Vital signs
Apical Pulse | the pulse on the left side of the chest below the nipple |
Apnea | the absence of breathing |
BPM | The medical abbreviation for beats per minute |
Brachial Pulse | the pulse inside the elbow about 1 to 1 and a half inches above the elbow |
Bradycardia | a slow heart rate |
Cheyne Stokes Respirations | type of respiration with periods of apnea lasting at least 10 seconds along with alternating periods of slow, irregular respirations and rapid, shallow respirations |
Diastolic | second measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart relaxes |
Dialate | to widen |
Dyspnea | difficulty breathing |
eupnea | normal respirations |
expiration | the process of exhaling air out of the lungs |
hypertension | high blood pressure measuring 140/90 or higher |
hypotension | low blood pressure measuring 100/60 or lower |
hypothermia | a condition in which body temperature drops below the level required for normal functioning |
inspiration | the process of inhaling air into the lungs |
orthopnea | shortness of breath when lying down that is relived by sitting up |
Orthostatic Hypotension | A sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands or sits up; also called postural hypotension |
Prehypertension | A condition in which a person has a systolic measurement of 120-139 mm Hg and a distolic measurement of 80-89 mm Hg: indicator that the person is likely to have high blood pressure in the future, even though he or she does not have it now |
Radical pulse | the pulse on the inside of the wrist, where the radical artery runs just beneath the skin |
Respiration | the process of inhaling air into the lungs and the process of exhaling air out the lungs |
Sphygmomanometer | a device that measures blood pressure |
stethoscope | an instrument used to hear sounds in the human body, such as the heartbeat or pulse,breathing sounds, or bowel sounds |
systolic | first measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart is at work, contracting and pushing blood out of the left ventricle |
tachycardia | a fast heartbeat--over 100 beats per minute. |
tachypnea | rapid respiration-- over 20 breaths per minute |
thermometer | a device used for measuring the degree of heat or cold. |