Numbers you should know
Working in the hospital, you quickly learn how important numbers are. This includes the number of minutes you spend with patients, the numbers associated with medical measurements, including blood pressure, heart rate, and many more. You may be wondering why these numbers matter to you as an SLP who mostly works on speech and swallowing. However, they actually prove to be very informative and important to you as a clinician!
Let's talk about some numbers you should pay attention to and what they mean!
1. Oxygen saturation
WHAT IT IS? Oxygen saturation (SpO2) estimate the amount of oxygen that is in your blood. It is usually measured by a pulse oximeter. This number can range from 0-100%. It tells us what percentage of your blood cells are oxygenated.
WHAT IS NORMAL? Typically, medical professionals strive to have SpO2 sats above 90%. Anything lower than that can be indicative of hypoxia. Typical SpO2 sats range from 95-100% in a normal, healthy person.
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT? As an SLP, SpO2 sats can be indicative of aspiration. If SpO2 sats dip below 90% during PO trials, this can be cause for concern and may be a sign/symptom of aspiration. It is a helpful, measurable way to observe for signs/symptoms of aspiration.
2. Blood pressure
WHAT IT IS? Blood pressure is the measurement of the strength of blood as it moves through the body and pushes against the sides of the blood vessels. If blood pressure is high, it can put strain on your arteries and heart and lead to heart attacks and strokes. Blood pressure is measured by 2 numbers: systolic blood pressure over diastolic blood pressure. Systolic (the upper number) is an indication of how much pressure the blood exerts against artery walls when the heart is beating. Diastolic (the lower number) indicates how much pressure the blood exerts against artery walls when the heart is resting between heart beats.
WHAT IS NORMAL? For adults, normal blood pressure is considered to be less than 120/less than 80. Anything higher than that can be cause for concern due to increasing hypertension and potential complications associated with it.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? As an SLP, blood pressure can be important during therapy sessions. If blood pressure is too low for a patient you have sitting up for PO trials, they may pass out. If it is too high, they may be at risk for stroke or even a heart attack. Blood pressure is also important to pay attention to for spinal cord patients. This is something that they struggle to maintain independently following injury and needs to be carefully monitored.
3. Heart rate
WHAT IS IT? Heart rate is how many heartbeats per minute.
WHAT IS NORMAL? Heart rate does depend on the age of your patient, whether they are awake or asleep, and many other environmental factors. So everyone's normal varies. As a general rule of thumb:
Under 12 months: 80-160 beats per minute (bpm)
1-5 years: 80-130 bpm
6-10 years: 70-110 bpm
11-14 years: 60-105 bpm
15-20 years: 60-100 bpm
Adults: 50-80 bpm
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? As an SLP, it is important to learn what your patient's norm for heart rate is. If their heart rate increases with PO trials, that can be indicative of aspiration. It is important to monitor heart rate throughout sessions.
4. Respiratory rate
WHAT IS NORMAL? For adults, normal blood pressure is considered to be less than 120/less than 80. Anything higher than that can be cause for concern due to increasing hypertension and potential complications associated with it.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? As an SLP, blood pressure can be important during therapy sessions. If blood pressure is too low for a patient you have sitting up for PO trials, they may pass out. If it is too high, they may be at risk for stroke or even a heart attack. Blood pressure is also important to pay attention to for spinal cord patients. This is something that they struggle to maintain independently following injury and needs to be carefully monitored.
3. Heart rate
WHAT IS IT? Heart rate is how many heartbeats per minute.
WHAT IS NORMAL? Heart rate does depend on the age of your patient, whether they are awake or asleep, and many other environmental factors. So everyone's normal varies. As a general rule of thumb:
Under 12 months: 80-160 beats per minute (bpm)
1-5 years: 80-130 bpm
6-10 years: 70-110 bpm
11-14 years: 60-105 bpm
15-20 years: 60-100 bpm
Adults: 50-80 bpm
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? As an SLP, it is important to learn what your patient's norm for heart rate is. If their heart rate increases with PO trials, that can be indicative of aspiration. It is important to monitor heart rate throughout sessions.
4. Respiratory rate
WHAT IS IT? Respiratory rate is the number of breaths taken per minute.
WHAT IS NORMAL? Like blood pressure, respiratory rate depends on patient's age and respiratory status. If the patient requires mechanical ventilation, it varies depending on the settings and needs of the patient.
Under 12 months: 20-50
1-5 years: 20-30
6-10 years: 15-30
11-14 years: 12-20
15-20 years: 12-30
Adults: 16-20
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? As an SLP, respiratory rate can be indicative of distress, often associated with aspiration occurring during PO trials. Increase in respiratory rate can be indicative of fever or sickness.
These are some need to know numbers for the medical-based SLP. Hope this was helpful to you.
Happy treating!
Mallory
WHAT IS NORMAL? Like blood pressure, respiratory rate depends on patient's age and respiratory status. If the patient requires mechanical ventilation, it varies depending on the settings and needs of the patient.
Under 12 months: 20-50
1-5 years: 20-30
6-10 years: 15-30
11-14 years: 12-20
15-20 years: 12-30
Adults: 16-20
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? As an SLP, respiratory rate can be indicative of distress, often associated with aspiration occurring during PO trials. Increase in respiratory rate can be indicative of fever or sickness.
These are some need to know numbers for the medical-based SLP. Hope this was helpful to you.
Happy treating!
Mallory
sources:
https://support.health.nokia.com/hc/en-us/articles/201494667-What-does-SpO2-mean-What-is-a-normal-SpO2-level-
http://www.healthline.com/health/normal-blood-oxygen-level#tools-for-measurement2
http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressure
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/KnowYourNumbers/Understanding-Blood-Pressure-Readings_UCM_301764_Article.jsp#.WbNgh8iGPIU
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2172054-overview
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/cardiovascular_diseases/vital_signs_body_temperature_pulse_rate_respiration_rate_blood_pressure_85,P00866
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/KnowYourNumbers/Understanding-Blood-Pressure-Readings_UCM_301764_Article.jsp#.WbNgh8iGPIU
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2172054-overview
http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/cardiovascular_diseases/vital_signs_body_temperature_pulse_rate_respiration_rate_blood_pressure_85,P00866
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