Final answer:
The vital signs include pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and respirations. They are essential for monitoring the body's basic functions and detecting potential health issues. Blood pressure consisting of systolic and diastolic pressures is critically measured to assess cardiovascular health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The measurements that are considered vital signs include 1) pulse, 2) blood pressure, 3) temperature, and 4) respirations. These vital signs are critical for assessing the body's basic functions and can indicate the state of a patient's health.
Your pulse is caused by the contraction of the heart pumping blood through the arteries. Systolic pressure is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, while diastolic pressure is the pressure between beats. The first sound heard when measuring blood pressure corresponds to the systolic pressure. These measurements are important as they can provide valuable medical indicators, such as detecting the presence of hypertension.
Changes in any of the body's vital signs may be indicative of disease or other health conditions. For instance, a fever is observed when body temperature is significantly above the normal 37 °C (98.6 °F) range, which can signal an infection or illness.