Normal vital signs are measurements of your body's basic functions while at rest. These measurements provide crucial information about your overall health. Different ranges are considered normal for various age groups, but for healthy adults, typical ranges are as follows:
Key Vital Signs & Normal Ranges for Adults at Rest:
- Blood Pressure: Between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. MedlinePlus, Cleveland Clinic, Mount Sinai all cite this range. While 120/80 mmHg is often quoted as the ideal, the broader range reflects normal variations.
- Heart Rate (Pulse): 60 to 100 beats per minute. This is consistent across numerous sources including Mayo Clinic, MedlinePlus, and Cleveland Clinic.
- Respiratory Rate (Breathing): 12 to 18 breaths per minute. This is confirmed by MedlinePlus, Cleveland Clinic, and Mount Sinai.
It's important to note that these are general ranges. Individual variations exist, and factors like age, physical fitness, and underlying health conditions can influence vital sign readings. Readings outside these ranges do not automatically indicate a problem but warrant consultation with a healthcare professional for assessment.
Note: Normal vital signs for children and adolescents differ and are age-dependent. Iowa Head and Neck Protocols highlights this, indicating that the ranges provided here are for adult individuals. Similarly, vital signs for animals such as dogs will have different normal ranges BEVS, Dixie Animal Hospital.
