Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 10

The breathing rate is one of the vital signs. This is the number of times that one breathes in and out in a minute. 

The normal breathing rate is very necessary especially in children as this is a serious imminent threat to life. A breathing rate of 14 per minute is usually regarded as normal. The quality of the breathing should also be considered.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 09

The body temperature is one of the vital signs. 

This is simply how hot or cold the body is. 

It is usually measured using a clinical thermometer.

A rough estimate can be obtained by touching the body. The normal body temperature is 37⁰c. 

If the body is too hot, it is advisable to cool by cold-toweling or using analgesics. 

If too cold, the body should be warmed by heat or analgesics.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 08

The heart rate is one of the vital signs. 

This is the number of times that the heart beats in a minute. 

Values between 60 ad 84 beats per minute can be regarded as Normal. 

If the heart rate goes as high as 150 or as low as 30, for instance, there is a high risk to life. 

To measure the heart rate, just hold the heart area and count the number of heart beats per minute using your watch.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 07

The blood pressure is one of the vital signs. 

The normal value is between 
135/85 to 90/60. 

At blood pressure values as high as
200/160 or as low as 70/40,
for instance,death is very likely at the slightest changes. 

Hypertensive patients should buy the equipment for measuring blood pressure and learn how to use it.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 06

It is important that people know the importance of the VITAL SIGNS. 

The vital signs include 

• the blood pressure
• the heart rate
• the body temperature and 
• the breathing rate. 

They show at what point between life and death a person is. 

A severe abnormality of any of these leads to death.

Often-times, sick people who are on the right medications die because enough caution was not taken to ensure that the vital signs are within the safe limits. Relatives of sick people need to have an idea of the normal and dangerous levels of the vital signs and how to measure them.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 05

Long term (chronic) toxicity of drugs means that a wrong used or a right drug wrongly used can show its disaster months and even years after it has been taken. 

Examples include the use of tetracycline or ciprofloxacin in children below 12 years and 18 years respectively.

Guidelines to Good Health - Snippet 04

The duration of the treatment of a disease varies, depending on;

1. the nature of the sickness
2. the nature of the drugs and 
3. the nature of the patient. 

In infections (fungal, bacterial etc), it is advisable to know the appropriate prescribed duration and stick to it. 

Ask a pharmacist!