FACTORS AFFECTING VS

Question 1

FOOD

TEMP

Answer 1

Eating food increases temp and not eating decreases temp.
Protein foods have greatest effects.
Wait 15-30 mins after eating/drinking

Question 2

AGE/BODY FAT

TEMP

Answer 2

Infants and elderly can’t maintain body temp.
Infants larger body surface area- higher metabolism.
Elderly- poor circulation.

Question 3

CLIMATE

TEMP

Answer 3

Cool environment causes vasoconstriction
Shunting blood to core organs.

Question 4

GENDER

TEMP

Answer 4

Higher in women during ovulation
(surge of progesterone, pregnancy maintaining hormone)

Question 5

EXERCISE ACTIVITY

TEMP

Answer 5

Increases temp. through muscle contractions/ shivering.
Decreased activity–decreased temp.

Question 6

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM (TIME OF DAY)

TEMP

Answer 6

Temp lowest from midnight to dawn and highest in late afternoon and evening.

Question 7

ILLNESS/INJURY

PULSE

Answer 7

Hypoxia—increases pulse.
CV disease—can increase or decrease, make irregular.
Increased ICP= decreased pulse, irregular pulse

Question 8

AGE

PULSE

Answer 8

Adolescence and adults same.
Younger higher values

Question 9

BODY TEMP

PULSE

Answer 9

For every degree of temp the pulse rate increases by 10 bpm.

Question 10

GENDER

PULSE

Answer 10

Men are 60-65 bpm at rest and women are 7-8 bpm faster.

Question 11

EXERCISE ACTIVITY

PULSE

Answer 11

Rates increase with exercise and decrease with rest.

Regular aerobic exercise training effect-lower pulses.

Question 12

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

PULSE

Answer 12

Rates lower in morning and increase later in day.

Question 13

EMOTIONS

TEMP

Answer 13

Anxiety /stress= temp higher and depressed = temp lower

Question 14

ILLNESS/INJURY

TEMP

Answer 14

Can cause temp to be higher or lower based on where disease/trauma located.
Infection, fluid loss, heat stroke, head injury

Question 15

MEDICATIONS

TEMP

Answer 15

Ones that lower body temp when febrile.

Stimulant drugs increase temp.

Question 16

EMOTIONS

PULSE

Answer 16

Fear, anger, excitement, and pain increase pulse rates.

Question 17

BLOOD VOLUME

PULSE

Answer 17

Blood loss increases pulse due to
body trying to increase O2 transport to needed areas

Fluid overload= bounding pulse

Question 18

MEDICATIONS

PULSE

Answer 18

Some meds slow down the heart rate-Digoxin. Caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, some inhalers increase heart rate.

Question 19

RACE

BP

Answer 19

Higher in African Americans

Question 20

AGE

BP

Answer 20

Increases with age due to plaque build up and vessels lose their elasticity.

Question 21

HYDRATION

BP

Answer 21

Dehydration – loss of volume= B/P low

Overhydration- increased fluid volume/fluid overload = B/P higher

Question 22

GENDER

BP

Answer 22

Women’s are lower than men of the same age.

Question 23

EXERCISE ACTIVITY

BP

Answer 23

Increases with exercise which helps to keep B/P WNL.

Lower B/P when lying down.

Question 24

CIRCADIAN RHYTHM

BP

Answer 24

Lowest after midnight and begins rising at 4-5 am and peaks during mid morning/early afternoon.

Question 25

SMOKING

RR

Answer 25

Increases

Question 26

AGE

RR

Answer 26

Varies with age.

Question 27

BODY TEMP

RR

Answer 27

Every 1 degree rise in temperature equals an increase in 4 breaths per minute.

Question 28

ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE

RR

Answer 28

Heat: increases

Cool- decreases

Question 29

EXERCISE/ACTIVITY

RR

Answer 29

INCREASES

Question 30

EMOTIONS

RR

Answer 30

Pain, anxiety, stress- increases

Question 30

MISC

BP

Answer 30

Increases with a full bladder, when the legs are crossed, and when a person is cold.

Increased ICP = increased B/P

Question 30

EMOTIONS

BP

Answer 30

Strong emotional experiences, stress and anxiety, causes B/P to increase.

Question 31

MEDICATIONS

BP

Answer 31

Caffeine, nicotine, and cocaine increase B/P.

Question 32

ILLNESS/INJURY

RR

Answer 32

Asthma, emphysema, DM, and metabolic acidosis increases.

Increased intracranial pressure, vomiting, and metabolic alkalosis decreases.

Question 33

MEDICATIONS

RR

Answer 33

Narcotics/
Sedatives= decrease

Drug overdose= decrease (depends on drug)