Vital signs are measurements of the body's most basic functions. The four main vital signs routinely monitored by medical professionals and healthcare 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.
