Abstract
Guidelines are presented for evaluating blood pressure at rest and during and after stimulation by changes in body position and activities (including isometric and isotonic exercise). These simple bedside maneuvers can reveal the origin of common symptoms such as light-headedness, exertional dyspnea, and palpitations. The text provides pointers on how to recognize secondary hypertension and to separate them from primary hypertension. Reduced blood pressure is described as central, peripheral, and blood volume determined. An approach to causes of hypotension – including drugs, orthostasis, and neuropathy – is expanded.
Variations of normal temperature are defined. The etiology of hyperthermia (from high ambient temperature or induced by strenuous exercise) is distinguished from fever, a condition of many causes. Hypothermia is classified as environmental or regulatory, the latter referring to a disorder of the body’s thermal control system.
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Phillips, R.E. (2018). Vital Signs. In: The Physical Exam. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63847-8_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63847-8_8
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