==========================
http://www.unmc.edu/nursing/careers/nurse_facts.htm
Age Group      Pulse        Resp Rate         BP Range
Babies	      120-150        30-60              NA
2-6 years      90-120        20-35          80/75-110/75
Children       85-100        18-25          75/40-120/75
Teenage        70-100        16-25          85/45-130/85
Adult          60-100        12-20         100/50-139/89    

What does my pulse measure? 
Your pulse measures how fast your heart is beating. Each time your heart beats it sends blood out of your heart into your arteries. Your pulse is like a wave or a ripple through your arteries that you can feel with every heart beat. We call the number of pulse beats we feel in one minute a pulse rate.

What is respiration rate?  
The number of times you breath in one minute is called your respiration rate. See the chart for normal respiration rates for different age groups.
 
How are respirations important to the body?  
Respiration is another word for breathing. Breathing or respiration is the method by which the body brings fresh oxygen into the arterial blood and removes carbon dioxide from venous blood.  

What does blood pressure mean?  
Blood pressure tells you the highest and lowest pressure in your arteries with every heart beat. So blood pressure gives information about your heart when it is working and when it is resting. There are two numbers that give information about your heart and blood vessels.

Systolic tells you the greatest amount of pressure the heart puts on the artery walls when it pumps blood out of the heart and into the blood vessels.

Diastolic tells you the least pressure during short time the heart is relaxed after pumping blood into the artery.

Does blood pressure stay the same all the time?  
No. In healthy people there is a range of normal blood pressure that occurs. For example, before you get up in the morning your blood pressure is a little bit lower than it will be later on when you are active. 
=====================
+++++++++++++++++++++
http://health.discovery.com/diseasesandcond/encyclopedia/1419.html

Normal values for the pulse rate depend on the person's age and fitness level. The pulse should be regular, meaning that the time between pulsations is the same. Some examples of normal pulse rates, in beats per minute (bpm)are:  children less than 1 year old: 100 to 160 bpm  children between 1 and 10 years old: 70 to 120 bpm  people more than 10 years old: 60 to 100 bpm  trained athletes: 40 to 60 bpm

Abnormal pulse rates can be:  a slow pulse, called bradycardia  a fast pulse, called tachycardia  an irregular pulse, with beats coming at varying intervals

A pulse can be abnormally slow or fast, and irregular at the same time. 

Slow pulse rates:  can be normal in well-trained athletes  can indicate an electrical problem inside the heart, often called an arrhythmia. For example, an electrical problem known as third degree heart block may cause a slow pulse rate.  can indicate low thyroid hormone levels, called hypothyroidism  can be caused by several medications, such as atenolol or diltiazem, which are both often used to treat high blood pressure  can be caused by other conditions, such as increased pressure inside the skull, often called increased intracranial pressure 

Fast pulse rates:  occur normally during and after exercise  can indicate an electrical problem in the heart, often called an arrhythmia. For example, an electrical problem called atrial tachycardia may cause a fast pulse rate.  can be caused by many other conditions, including fever, dehydration, fear, hormone problems, and heart defects. For example, a high thyroid hormone level, or hyperthyroidism, can cause a fast pulse rate. A heart defect known as teratology of Fallot may also cause a fast pulse rate.

An irregular pulse often indicates an electrical problem in the heart. This may be normal for a given person or may indicate a life-threatening problem. For example, irregular pulse rates can be due to a heart attack or enlargement of the heart. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
????????????????????????????
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2139

High blood pressure (hypertension) killed 42,565 Americans in 1997 and contributed to the deaths of about 210,000. 

As many as 50 million Americans aged 6 and older have high blood pressure. (Based on NHANES III data.) 

One in five Americans (and one in four adults) has high blood pressure. 
Of those people with high blood pressure, 31.6 percent don't know they have it. 

Of all people with high blood pressure, 14.8 percent aren't on therapy (special diet or drugs), 26.2 percent are on inadequate therapy, and 27.4 percent are on adequate therapy. 

The cause of 9095 percent of the cases of high blood pressure isn't known; however, high blood pressure is easily detected and usually controllable. 

From 1987 to 1997 the death rate from high blood pressure increased 13.1 (8) percent. (The first percentage, in bold, is adjusted to the year 2000 standard. The second, in parentheses, is adjusted to the 1940 standard.) 

Non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than are non-Hispanic whites. 

People with lower educational and income levels also tend to have higher levels of blood pressure. 

In 1997 the death rates per 100,000 population from high blood pressure were 14.0 (7.0) for white males, 50.2 (30.7) for black males, 12.8 (5.1) for white females and 40.6 (21.7) for black females. (The first death rate, in bold, is adjusted to the year 2000 standard. The second, in parentheses, is adjusted to the 1940 standard.) 

??????????????????????????
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=539

Risk factors and coronary heart disease

American Heart Association scientific position

Extensive clinical and statistical studies have identified several factors that increase the risk of heart disease and heart attack. Major risk factors are those that medical research has shown significantly increase the risk of heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) disease. Contributing risk factors are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, but their significance and prevalence havent yet been precisely determined. 
The American Heart Association has identified several risk factors for coronary heart disease. Some of them can be modified, treated or controlled, and some cant. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that he or she will develop heart disease. Also the greater the level of each risk factor, the greater the risk. For example, a person with a total cholesterol of 300 mg/dL has a greater risk than someone with a total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL, even though all people with a total cholesterol of 240 or higher are considered high risk.

What are the major uncontrollable risk factors for coronary heart disease?

Increasing age  About four out of five people who die of coronary heart disease are age 65 or older. At older ages, women who have heart attacks are more likely than men to die from them within a few weeks.

Male sex (gender)  Men have a greater risk of heart attack than women, and they have attacks earlier in life. Even after menopause, when womens death rate from heart disease increases, it's not as great as mens.

Heredity (including Race)  Children of parents with heart disease are more likely to develop it themselves. African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than whites and a higher risk of heart disease. Heart disease is also higher among Mexican Americans, American Indians, native Hawaiians and some Asian Americans. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes.

Most people with a strong family history of heart disease have one or more other risk factors. Just as you can't control your age, sex and race, you can't control your family history. That makes it even more important to treat and control any other risk factors you have.

Other major risk factors that can be lowered by modification, treatment or control.

Tobacco smoke  Smokers risk of heart attack is more than twice that of nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking is the biggest risk factor for sudden cardiac death; smokers have two to four times the risk of nonsmokers. Smokers who have a heart attack are more likely to die and die suddenly (within an hour) than are nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking also acts with other risk factors to greatly increase the risk for coronary heart disease. People who smoke cigars or pipes seem to have a higher risk of death from coronary heart disease (and possibly stroke), but their risk isn't as great as cigarette smokers. Constant exposure to other people's smoke, called environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke or passive smoking increases the risk of heart disease even for nonsmokers.

High blood cholesterol levels  The risk of coronary heart disease rises as blood cholesterol levels increase. When other risk factors (such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are present, this risk increases even more. A person's cholesterol level is also affected by age, sex, heredity and diet.

High blood pressure  High blood pressure increases the hearts workload, causing the heart to enlarge and weaken over time. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

Physical inactivity  An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous exercise is important in preventing heart and blood vessel disease. Even moderate-intensity physical activities are beneficial if done regularly and long term. More vigorous activities are associated with more benefits. Exercise can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as help to lower blood pressure in some people.

Obesity and overweight  People who have excess body fat  especially if a lot of it is in the waist area  are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Excess weight increases the strain on the heart, raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers HDL cholesterol levels. It can also make diabetes more likely to develop. Many obese and overweight people have difficulty losing weight. If you can lose as little as 10 to 20 pounds, you can help lower your heart disease risk.

Diabetes mellitus  Diabetes seriously increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose levels are under control, diabetes greatly increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. About two-thirds of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. If you have diabetes, it's critically important to work with your healthcare provider to manage your diabetes and control any other risk factors you can.

What other factors contribute to heart disease risk?

Stress  Individual response to stress may be a contributing factor. Some scientists have noted a relationship between coronary heart disease risk and stress in a persons life, their health behaviors and socioeconomic status. These factors may affect established risk factors. For example, people under stress may overeat, start smoking or smoke more than they otherwise would.

Sex hormones  These seem to play a role in heart disease. Its well known that men have more heart attacks than women do before the age of menopause. Several population studies show that the loss of natural estrogen as women age may contribute to a higher risk of heart disease after menopause. If menopause is caused by surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries, the risk of heart attack rises sharply. If menopause occurs naturally, the risk rises more slowly. Hormones also affect blood cholesterol. Female hormones tend to raise HDL ("good") cholesterol and lower total blood cholesterol. Male hormones do the opposite.

Birth control pills  The early forms, with higher doses of estrogen and progestin, increased a womans risk of heart disease and stroke, especially in older women who smoked heavily. Newer, lower-dose oral contraceptives carry a much lower risk of cardiovascular disease, except for women who smoke or have high blood pressure. If a woman taking oral contraceptives has other risk factors (and especially if she smokes), her risk of developing blood clots and having a heart attack goes up. It rises even more after age 35. Still, the American Heart Association recommends caution because in the HERS trial, women with a history of heart disease didn't benefit in reducing further heart attacks by taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Excessive alcohol intake  Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure, cause heart failure and lead to stroke. It can contribute to high triglycerides, cancer and other diseases, and produce irregular heartbeats. It contributes to obesity, alcoholism, suicide and accidents. The risk of heart disease in people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one drink for women or two drinks for men per day) is lower than in nondrinkers. One drink is defined as 11/2 fluid ounces (fl oz) of 80-proof spirits (such as bourbon, Scotch, vodka, gin, etc.), 1 fl oz of 100-proof spirits, 4 fl oz of wine, or 12 fl oz of beer. Its not recommended that nondrinkers start using alcohol or that drinkers increase their intake.

Stroke risk factors

The American Heart Association has identified several factors that increase the risk of stroke. The more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that he or she will have a stroke. Some of these you cant control, such as increasing age, family health history, race and gender. But you can modify, treat or control most risk factors to lower your risk of stroke. Factors resulting from lifestyle or environment can be modified with a healthcare provider's help.

What are the risk factors for stroke?

Increasing age  The chance of having a stroke more than doubles for each decade of life after age 55. While stroke is common among the elderly, 28 percent of people under 65 also have strokes.

Sex (gender)  The latest data show that overall the morbidity, i.e., incidence and prevalence of stroke, are about equal for men and women. However, more than half of total stroke deaths occur in women.

Heredity (family history) and race  The chance of stroke is greater in people who have a family history of stroke. African Americans have a much higher risk of death and disability from a stroke than whites, in part because blacks have a greater incidence of high blood pressure and diabetes. Asian-Pacific Islanders and Hispanics also have a high risk of stroke.

Prior stroke  The risk of stroke for someone who has already had one is many times that of a person who has not.

High blood pressure  High blood pressure is defined in an adult as a systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher and/or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher for an extended time. It's the most important risk factor for stroke. Many people believe the effective treatment of high blood pressure is a key reason for the accelerated decline in the death rates for stroke.

Cigarette smoking  In recent years studies have shown cigarette smoking to be an important risk factor for stroke. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke damage the cardiovascular system in many ways. Using birth control pills and smoking cigarettes greatly increases stroke risk.

Diabetes mellitus  Diabetes is an independent risk factor for stroke and is strongly correlated with high blood pressure. While diabetes is treatable, having it still increases a persons risk of stroke. People with diabetes often also have high cholesterol and are overweight, increasing their risk even more.

Heart disease  A diseased heart increases the risk of stroke. In fact, people with heart problems have more than twice the risk of stroke than people whose hearts work normally. Atrial fibrillation (the rapid, uncoordinated quivering of the hearts upper chambers), in particular, raises the risk for stroke. Heart attack is also the major cause of death among stroke survivors.

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)  TIAs are "mini strokes" that produce stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. They're strong predictors of stroke. A person whos had one or more TIAs is almost 10 times more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn't.

High red blood cell count  A moderate or marked increase in the red blood cell count is a risk factor for stroke. The reason is that more red blood cells thicken the blood and make clots more likely.
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
88888888888888888888888888
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2134

J-curve Phenomenon

We have a great deal of evidence that people with high blood pressure and/or blood cholesterol levels have a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The higher the blood pressure and/or cholesterol level, the greater the risk. We also know that lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels decreases the risk for CVD. 
When the blood pressure or blood cholesterol levels of large groups of people are plotted on a graph against CVD mortality, it often results in a J-shaped curve. This curve shows that those with higher blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels, closer to the top of the curve, are more likely to die from CVD. The curve also shows that those at the lowest end of the curve (with very low blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels) also have increased CVD mortality, which accounts for the J shape. This is known as the J-curve phenomenon. Most evidence, however, indicates that the group at the bottom-left part of the curve (with very low blood pressure and cholesterol levels) tends to be different from the general population in other ways -- and those differences may contribute to the apparent increase in mortality.

While treatment of high blood pressure or cholesterol levels with drugs may have some side effects, treatment doesnt result in the markedly low values associated with increased CVD mortality. More studies are needed to determine the best treatment levels for different groups.
  
8888888888888888888888888888888

Blood Pressure Facts:

Systolic - mm Hg.
<120 is considered Optimal.
120-130 considered Normal.
130-140 considered High Normal.
140-160 considered Grade 1 Hypertension.
160-180 considered Grade 2 Hypertension.
>180    considered Grade 3 Hypertension.

Diastolic - mm Hg.
<80     considered Optimal.
80-84   considered Normal.
85-89   considered High Normal.
90-99   considered Grade 1 Hypertension.
100-109 considered Grade 2 Hypertension.
>110    considered Grade 3 Hypertension.
  
The World Health Organization (WHO) and International Society of Hypertension (ISH) developed the above Blood Pressure Classification.

There is not a universally accepted definition of Hypotension (low blood pressure), but a Systolic pressure below 100 mmHg is usually regarded as hypotension.