BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAging changes in vital signsVital signs include body temperature, heart rate (pulse), breathing (respiratory) rate, and blood pressure. As you age, your vital signs may change, depending on how healthy you are. Some medical problems can cause changes in one or more vital signs.Vital signsVital signs reflect essential body functions, including your heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature, and blood pressure. Your health care provider m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Checking your vital signs helps your health care provider monitor your health and any medical problems you may have.BODY TEMPERATURE Normal body temperature does not change much with aging. But as you get older, it becomes harder for your body to control its temperature. A decrease in the amount of fat below the skin makes it harder to stay warm. You may need to wear layers of clothing to feel warm.Normal body temperatureNormal body temperature varies by person, age, activity, and time of day. The average normal body temperature is generally accepted as 98. 6°F (37°C...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Aging decreases your ability to sweat. You may have difficulty telling when you are becoming overheated. This puts you at high risk of overheating (heat stroke). You can also be at risk for dangerous drops in body temperature.Heat strokeHeat emergencies or illnesses are caused by exposure to extreme heat or sun. Heat illnesses can be prevented by being careful in hot, humid weather....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever is an important sign of illness in older people. It is often the only symptom for several days of an illness. See your provider if you have a fever that is not explained by a known illness.FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A fever is also a sign of infection. When an older person has an infection, their body may not be able to produce a higher temperature. For this reason, it is important to check other vital signs, as well as any symptoms and signs of infection.HEART RATE AND BREATHING RATE As you grow older, your pulse rate is about the same as before. But when you exercise, it may take longer for your pulse to increase and longer for it to slow down afterward. Your highest heart rate with exercise is also lower than it was when you were younger.Breathing rate usually does not change with age. But lung function decreases slightly each year as you age. Healthy older people can usually breathe without effort.Lung functionPulmonary function tests are a group of tests that measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioning.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BLOOD PRESSURE Older people may become dizzy when standing up too quickly. This is due to a drop in blood pressure with standing. This kind of drop in blood pressure when standing is called orthostatic hypotension. It is often related to medicines, particularly blood pressure drugs.DizzyDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HypotensionLow blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body may not get enough...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risk of having high blood pressure (hypertension) increases as you get older. Other heart-related problems common in older adults include:HypertensionBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Very slow pulse or very fast pulse Slow pulseThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter are common types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which affect the upper chambers (atria) of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article EFFECTS OF MEDICINES ON VITAL SIGNS Medicines that are used to treat health problems in older people can affect the vital signs. For example, the medicine digoxin, which is used for heart failure, and blood pressure medicines called beta-blockers may cause the pulse to slow.Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diuretics (water pills) can cause low blood pressure, most often when changing body position too quickly.OTHER CHANGESAs you grow older, you will have other changes, including: In organs, tissues, and cells In organs, tissues, and cellsAll vital organs begin to lose some function as you age. Aging changes occur in all of the body's cells, tissues, and organs, and these changes affe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the heart and blood vessels In the heart and blood vesselsSome changes in the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age. However, many other changes that are common with aging are due to or worsened b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the lungsIn the lungsThe lungs have two main functions. One is to get oxygen from the air into the body. The other is to remove carbon dioxide from the body. Your body...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesSoutherland LT, Fath JJ. Geriatric trauma. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 179.Schiger DL. Approach to the patient with abnormal vital signs. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 7.Walston JD. Common clinical sequelae of aging. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22. AllVideoImagesTogAerobic exercise - illustration Aerobic exercise gets the heart working to pump blood through the heart more quickly and with more force than normal. As blood is pumped faster, it must be oxygenated more quickly, which quickens respiration. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and boosts healthy cholesterol levels. Low impact aerobics include walking and swimming. Running, tennis and dance are high impact aerobics.Aerobic exerciseillustrationTaking your carotid pulse - illustration The carotid arteries take oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain. The pulse from the carotids may be felt on either side of thefront of the neck just below the angle of the jaw. This rhythmic beat is caused by varying volumes of blood being pushed out of the heart toward the extremities.Taking your carotid pulseillustrationRadial pulse - illustration Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues of the body. Veins carry blood depleted of oxygen from the same tissues back to the heart. The arteries are the vessels with the pulse, a rhythmic pushing of the blood in the heart followed by a refilling of the heart chamber. To determine heart rate, one counts the beats at a pulse point like the inside of the wrist for 10 seconds, and multiplies this number by 6. This is the per-minute total.Radial pulseillustrationWarming up and cooling down - illustration Warming up before exercise and cooling down after are just as important as the exercise itself. By properly warming up the muscles and joints with low-level aerobic movement for 5 to 10 minutes, one may avoid injury and build endurance over time. Cooling down after exercise by walking slowly, then stretching muscles, may also prevent strains and blood pressure fluctuation.Warming up and cooling downillustrationEffects of age on blood pressure - illustration Blood vessels become less elastic with age. The average blood pressure increases from 120/70 to 150/90 and may persist slightly high even if treated. The blood vessels respond more slowly to a change in body position.Effects of age on blood pressureillustrationAerobic exercise - illustration Aerobic exercise gets the heart working to pump blood through the heart more quickly and with more force than normal. As blood is pumped faster, it must be oxygenated more quickly, which quickens respiration. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and boosts healthy cholesterol levels. Low impact aerobics include walking and swimming. Running, tennis and dance are high impact aerobics.Aerobic exerciseillustrationTaking your carotid pulse - illustration The carotid arteries take oxygenated blood from the heart to the brain. The pulse from the carotids may be felt on either side of thefront of the neck just below the angle of the jaw. This rhythmic beat is caused by varying volumes of blood being pushed out of the heart toward the extremities.Taking your carotid pulseillustrationRadial pulse - illustration Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues of the body. Veins carry blood depleted of oxygen from the same tissues back to the heart. The arteries are the vessels with the pulse, a rhythmic pushing of the blood in the heart followed by a refilling of the heart chamber. To determine heart rate, one counts the beats at a pulse point like the inside of the wrist for 10 seconds, and multiplies this number by 6. This is the per-minute total.Radial pulseillustrationWarming up and cooling down - illustration Warming up before exercise and cooling down after are just as important as the exercise itself. By properly warming up the muscles and joints with low-level aerobic movement for 5 to 10 minutes, one may avoid injury and build endurance over time. Cooling down after exercise by walking slowly, then stretching muscles, may also prevent strains and blood pressure fluctuation.Warming up and cooling downillustrationEffects of age on blood pressure - illustration Blood vessels become less elastic with age. The average blood pressure increases from 120/70 to 150/90 and may persist slightly high even if treated. The blood vessels respond more slowly to a change in body position.Effects of age on blood pressureillustrationA Closer Look Brain cancer(Alt. Medicine)Menopause(Alt. Medicine)Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - InDepth(In-Depth)Asthma(Alt. Medicine)Hypothyroidism - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth)Back pain and sciatica - InDepth(In-Depth)Related Information Review Date: 7/21/2022 Reviewed By: Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. 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Aging changes in vital signsVital signs include body temperature, heart rate (pulse), breathing (respiratory) rate, and blood pressure. As you age, your vital signs may change, depending on how healthy you are. Some medical problems can cause changes in one or more vital signs.Vital signsVital signs reflect essential body functions, including your heartbeat, breathing rate, temperature, and blood pressure. Your health care provider m...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Checking your vital signs helps your health care provider monitor your health and any medical problems you may have.BODY TEMPERATURE Normal body temperature does not change much with aging. But as you get older, it becomes harder for your body to control its temperature. A decrease in the amount of fat below the skin makes it harder to stay warm. You may need to wear layers of clothing to feel warm.Normal body temperatureNormal body temperature varies by person, age, activity, and time of day. The average normal body temperature is generally accepted as 98. 6°F (37°C...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Aging decreases your ability to sweat. You may have difficulty telling when you are becoming overheated. This puts you at high risk of overheating (heat stroke). You can also be at risk for dangerous drops in body temperature.Heat strokeHeat emergencies or illnesses are caused by exposure to extreme heat or sun. Heat illnesses can be prevented by being careful in hot, humid weather....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fever is an important sign of illness in older people. It is often the only symptom for several days of an illness. See your provider if you have a fever that is not explained by a known illness.FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A fever is also a sign of infection. When an older person has an infection, their body may not be able to produce a higher temperature. For this reason, it is important to check other vital signs, as well as any symptoms and signs of infection.HEART RATE AND BREATHING RATE As you grow older, your pulse rate is about the same as before. But when you exercise, it may take longer for your pulse to increase and longer for it to slow down afterward. Your highest heart rate with exercise is also lower than it was when you were younger.Breathing rate usually does not change with age. But lung function decreases slightly each year as you age. Healthy older people can usually breathe without effort.Lung functionPulmonary function tests are a group of tests that measure breathing and how well the lungs are functioning.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article BLOOD PRESSURE Older people may become dizzy when standing up too quickly. This is due to a drop in blood pressure with standing. This kind of drop in blood pressure when standing is called orthostatic hypotension. It is often related to medicines, particularly blood pressure drugs.DizzyDizziness is a term that is often used to describe 2 different symptoms: lightheadedness and vertigo. Lightheadedness is a feeling that you might fai...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article HypotensionLow blood pressure occurs when blood pressure is much lower than normal. This means the heart, brain, and other parts of the body may not get enough...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risk of having high blood pressure (hypertension) increases as you get older. Other heart-related problems common in older adults include:HypertensionBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Very slow pulse or very fast pulse Slow pulseThe pulse is the number of heartbeats per minute.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillationAtrial fibrillation (Afib) and atrial flutter are common types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) which affect the upper chambers (atria) of the...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article EFFECTS OF MEDICINES ON VITAL SIGNS Medicines that are used to treat health problems in older people can affect the vital signs. For example, the medicine digoxin, which is used for heart failure, and blood pressure medicines called beta-blockers may cause the pulse to slow.Heart failureHeart failure is a condition in which the heart is no longer able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body efficiently. This causes symptom...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Diuretics (water pills) can cause low blood pressure, most often when changing body position too quickly.OTHER CHANGESAs you grow older, you will have other changes, including: In organs, tissues, and cells In organs, tissues, and cellsAll vital organs begin to lose some function as you age. Aging changes occur in all of the body's cells, tissues, and organs, and these changes affe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the heart and blood vessels In the heart and blood vesselsSome changes in the heart and blood vessels normally occur with age. However, many other changes that are common with aging are due to or worsened b...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article In the lungsIn the lungsThe lungs have two main functions. One is to get oxygen from the air into the body. The other is to remove carbon dioxide from the body. Your body...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesSoutherland LT, Fath JJ. Geriatric trauma. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 179.Schiger DL. Approach to the patient with abnormal vital signs. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 7.Walston JD. Common clinical sequelae of aging. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 22.