Vitals, or vital signs, are a standard set of four measurements taken at virtually every medical visit: body temperature, heart rate (pulse), respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Many healthcare settings now routinely add a fifth measurement, oxygen saturation, bringing the typical count to five. Together, these numbers give a quick snapshot of how your body’s most essential functions are performing.
Body Temperature
The average normal body temperature is 98.6°F (37°C), though healthy individuals can run slightly above or below that number throughout the day. A reading over 100.4°F (38°C) is generally considered a fever, usually signaling an infection or inflammatory process.
Where the temperature is taken matters. Rectal readings run about 0.6 to 0.9°F higher than oral readings, and oral readings run roughly 0.4°F higher than armpit (axillary) readings. The old rule of thumb that each site differs by a full degree isn’t quite accurate, but the general pattern holds: rectal is highest, oral is in the middle, and armpit or skin readings are lowest. If you’re comparing numbers taken at different sites, keep that gap in mind.
Heart Rate (Pulse)
Your pulse measures how many times your heart beats per minute. For most adults at rest, a normal heart rate falls between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Well-trained athletes often sit below 60 at rest without any problem, while anxiety, caffeine, dehydration, fever, or pain can push the number higher.
A healthcare provider typically checks your pulse at the wrist or neck for 15 to 60 seconds, then calculates beats per minute. Many automatic blood pressure cuffs display the number alongside your pressure reading. Consistently high or low readings outside the 60 to 100 range, especially with symptoms like dizziness or shortness of breath, are worth flagging.
Respiratory Rate
Respiratory rate is the number of breaths you take per minute. The normal range for a resting adult is 12 to 18 breaths per minute. A rate below 12 or above 25 while at rest can point to an underlying health issue, from anxiety or asthma to more serious respiratory or metabolic problems.
This is often the vital sign people are least aware of because it’s measured so unobtrusively. A nurse or medical assistant will usually count your breaths while appearing to check your pulse, since people tend to change their breathing pattern the moment they know it’s being watched.
Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers: systolic (the pressure when your heart contracts) over diastolic (the pressure when your heart relaxes between beats). The 2025 guidelines from the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology classify adult blood pressure into four categories:
- Normal: below 120/80 mm Hg
- Elevated: 120 to 129 systolic and below 80 diastolic
- Stage 1 hypertension: 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic
- Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or higher systolic, or 90 or higher diastolic
For the most accurate reading, you should be seated with your back supported, feet flat on the floor, and your arm resting at heart level. Crossing your legs, talking, or having a full bladder can all nudge the numbers upward. A single high reading doesn’t necessarily mean you have hypertension; providers look for a pattern across multiple visits.
Oxygen Saturation
Oxygen saturation (SpO2) measures the percentage of your red blood cells carrying oxygen. It’s read with a small clip-on device called a pulse oximeter, placed on your fingertip. For most people, a normal reading falls between 95% and 100%. A reading at or below 92% is a reason to contact a healthcare provider, and 88% or lower is considered a medical emergency.
Though not one of the original four vital signs, oxygen saturation has become a near-universal addition. Research has found that among all the candidates for a “fifth vital sign,” pulse oximetry is one of the few that consistently improves patient outcomes when monitored. Pain was once promoted as the fifth vital sign by some U.S. healthcare systems, but that approach has been largely abandoned because of its role in fueling overprescription of opioids.
How Vitals Differ in Children
Normal ranges shift considerably with age. In general, younger children have faster heart rates and faster breathing, and their blood pressure is lower than an adult’s. Here’s how the ranges compare at a few key ages:
- Newborn to 3 months: heart rate 110 to 160, respiratory rate 30 to 60, blood pressure around 65 to 85/45 to 55
- 1 to 3 years: heart rate 80 to 125, respiratory rate 20 to 30, blood pressure around 90 to 105/55 to 70
- 6 to 12 years: heart rate 60 to 100, respiratory rate 14 to 22, blood pressure around 100 to 120/60 to 75
- 12 to 18 years: ranges approach adult values, with heart rate 60 to 100, respiratory rate 12 to 18, and blood pressure 100 to 120/70 to 80
A heart rate of 140 in a newborn is perfectly normal, but that same number in a teenager would be a red flag. This is why pediatric vital sign charts are organized by age rather than using a single set of numbers.
What Your Vitals Actually Tell You
No single vital sign tells the whole story. Providers look at the numbers together to spot patterns. A fast heart rate paired with low blood pressure could suggest dehydration or blood loss. A high temperature combined with rapid breathing might point toward pneumonia. Normal vitals don’t rule out every problem, but abnormal vitals are one of the earliest and most reliable signals that something needs attention.
If you track any of these at home, consistency matters more than any individual reading. Use the same device, measure at the same time of day, and record the numbers so you can share trends rather than isolated snapshots with your provider.