The term vital signs refers to the measurement of an individuals vital or critical physiologic functions.  To be aware of your vital signs is to have an understanding of your level of personal health and wellbeing to an extent that an individual is empowered to monitor progress and bring about improvement.

Why does weight matter?                                  

Monitoring and maintaining a healthy body weight are important to your general wellbeing and continued enjoyment of an active lifestyle.  Being very overweight (obese) can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.  It has also been linked to the development of certain cancers. The World Health Organisation state that a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 or over is overweight and a BMI of 30 is clinically obese. The Wellbeing Centre measures Body Fat Content and Body Mass Index in one simple test.

What is a Hydration Quota?                                
 
The HQ is an easy means of remembering how much additional water you need to drink in order to maintain a good level of hydration– fundamental to the healthy function of the brain and body alike. The quota itself is calculated by considering factors like weight, daily exercise levels and current fluid consumption, the last  taking into account the diuretic effect of certain drinks. (Coffee is excluded from the calculation owing to its differing effects according to consumption patterns).

The HQ is expressed in the form of the approximate number of 200ml cups of water that individuals should be drinking daily to bring them closer to an optimal level of hydration. HQ will vary according to changes in the ambient temperature: on a very hot day, for example, extra water will need to be consumed.

What is BMI?                                                          

Body Mass Index (BMI) is an internationally recognised method of determining obesity (overweight). It is calculated by dividing the individual’s weight by the square of their height.

What is Body Fat Content                                  

Body fat content is an estimate of what proportion of the body consists of adipose (i.e. fatty) tissue as opposed to muscle, bone, and other ‘lean’ tissue. Body fat content will vary during the day and is dependant upon the amount of water in the body. Understanding the normal changes in body fat percentage can help in preventing or reducing obesity.

What is Heart Rate?                                             

Heart rate, also known as pulse rate, is the number of times your heart beats every minute to pump blood around the body. Heart rates differ with factors such as age and level of fitness.  However, the average heart rate of an adult ranges between 60 and 80 beats per minute.  Regularly measuring the heart rate, particularly in adults, gives an indication of their general state of health and an early warning of metabolic conditions that may require attention.

What is Blood Pressure?                                      
 
Blood pressure measurement indicates the force of blood against artery walls – both as the heart pumps (systolic) and as it rests (diastolic).  Regular checks can provide a valuable insight into your physical condition. High blood pressure is potentially dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to the risk of heart disease and strokes. It can also result in other conditions such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease and   blindness. Early treatment can reduce the risk considerably.
The British Heart Foundation’s recommended target blood pressure for adults is 140/85 (140 systolic and 85 diastolic). Someone suffering from diabetes will have a  target below 130/80. A third of patients with high blood pressure don’t know they have it.