Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate IV · Physiology · 01

Cardiovascular system and vital signs

Blood pressure is graded by the ACC/AHA 2017 categories: normal under 120/80, elevated at 120-129 systolic, stage 1 at 130-139 or 80-89, stage 2 at 140/90 or higher, and crisis above 180/120, which calls for deferring care and referring. Use a correctly sized cuff, because one that is too small reads falsely high. A normal adult pulse is 60-100 beats per minute.

High-yield facts · 7

  1. Blood pressure categories (ACC/AHA 2017): normal under 120/80; elevated 120-129/under 80; stage 1 130-139 or 80-89; stage 2 140 or higher or 90 or higher.S27
  2. Hypertensive crisis is above 180 and/or above 120 diastolic; treat as urgent and refer.S27
  3. Use a cuff whose bladder covers at least 80% of the arm's circumference; a cuff that is too small reads falsely high.S27
  4. Normal adult resting pulse is 60-100 beats/min; under 60 is bradycardia, over 100 tachycardia.S49
  5. The radial artery is the usual pulse site; the carotid is used in emergencies (adults) and the brachial in infants.S26
  6. Systole is ventricular contraction; diastole is relaxation and filling.S49
  7. The SA node is the heart's natural pacemaker.S49

Facts are written in our own words; each tag links to its source. Values marked "sources vary" differ between references, so check the one your program uses.