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The pulse on the left side of the chest, just below the nipple
Apical Pulse
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The absence of breathing; may be temporary
Apnea
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The abbreviation for “beats per minute”
BPM
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The pulse inside the elbow; used to measure the blood pressure
Brachial pulse
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A slow heart rate; under 60 beats per minute
Bradycardia
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The centigrade temperature scale in which the boiling point of water is 100 degrees and freezing point of water is 0 degrees
Celsius
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Type of respiration with periods of apnea lasting at least 10 seconds, along with alternation periods of slow, irregular respiration or rapid, shallow respiration
Cheyne-Stokes respiration
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Second measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart relaxes
Diastolic
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Difficulty in breathing
Dyspnea
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Normal respirations
Eupnea
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The process of exhaling air out of the lungs
Expirations
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A temperature scale where the boiling point of water is 212 degrees and the freezing point of water is 32 degrees
Fahrenheit
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High blood pressure
Hypertension
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Low blood pressure
Hypotension
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A condition in which body temperature drops below the level required for normal functioning; severe sub-normal body temperature
Hypothermia
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The process of inhaling air into the lungs
Inspiration
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Shortness of breath when lying down that is relieved by sitting up
Orthopnea
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A sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person stand up; also called postural hypotension
Orthostatic Hypotension
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A condition in which a person has a systolic
measurement of 120–139 mm Hg and a diastolic measurement of 80-89mm HG; indicator that the person does not have high blood pressure now but is likely to have it in the future
Prehypertension
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The pulse on the inside of the wrist, when the radial artery runs just beneath the skin
Radial pulse
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The process of inhaling air into the lungs (inspiration) and exhaling air out of the lungs (expiration)
Respiration
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A device that measures blood pressure
Sphygmomanometer
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An instrument used to hear sounds in the human body, such as the heart beat or pulse, breathing sounds, or bowel sounds
Stethoscope
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First measurement of blood pressure; phase when the heart is at work, contracting and pushing blood out
of the left ventricle
Systolic
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A fast heartbeat, over 100 beats per minute
Tachycardia
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Rapid respirations
Tachypnea
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A device used for measuring the degree of heat or cold
Thermometer
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Measurement that monitor the function of the vital organs of the body
Vital signs
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