Vital signs are the measurement of body temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. Vital signs are indicators of one's health condition. They offer clues to diseases and evaluate progress toward recovery. Vital signs should be taken at rest. Any abnormal findings should be repeated in order to verify the findings.

Body Temperature: Body temperature is taken with a thermometer. It is lower in the morning than it is late afternoon and evening. In general, the normal oral temperature is 98.6 degrees F. Temperature can vary with other factors, such as exercise, sitting in a cold room, fighting an infection, and by the accuracy and type of thermometer used.

Pulse Rate and Rhythm: Checking your pulse rate is an easy way to count the number of times your heart beats in a minute. Pulse checks can be taken at the wrist (radial pulse) or at the neck (carotid pulse). Do not use your thumb, instead use your index and middle fingers. A resting adult heart rate should be between 60 and 100 beats a minute. Athletes may have lower rates. Children (depending on their age) will have higher pulse rates. Your heart rhythm should be regular, without any missing or closely spaced beats.

Respiratory Rate: Your respiratory rate is how many times you take a breath in a minute. The best time to check the respiratory rate is when a person is resting. To do this, count the number of times the chest rises for one full minute while breathing normally. The normal adult rate is 12 to 24 breaths per minute. Children breath faster.

Blood Pressure: Blood pressure is a way of measuring the force of the circulating blood on the walls of the arteries. The average blood pressure is 120 millimeters of mercury (systolic-the upper number) , over 80 millimeters of mercury (diastolic-the lower number). A resting blood pressure of over 90 diastolic is considered mildly elevated; over 100 may require treatment.

High tech, user friendly devices can be purchased at low cost to measure vital signs at home. A thermometer measures temperature. Blood pressure and pulse rate can be measured by a blood pressure machine. Follow the instructions carefully. The proper size and type of equipment must be used. Check with a licensed health care professional to make sure you are performing the procedure correctly.

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