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What your vital signs reveal about your health

  • June 24, 2025

No one looks forward to the “up-close-and-personal” experience of being examined by a doctor. But understanding what they’re doing and what they are looking for can make it less stressful.

During a routine check-up, your primary care doctor will begin by checking your vital signs and performing a thorough examination.

Let’s break down what your doctor is looking for and what those vital signs indicate about your overall health.

 

What else do doctors check during an exam?

After looking at your vital signs, doctors often perform a physical exam to gather more information about your health. Here are some of the things they check:

Ears, eyes, nose and throat (EENT)

  • They will check your eyes for clarity of vision and look for signs of any infections or allergies. A red eye or unusual pupil response could suggest different conditions.
  • They will examine your ears for any infection or fluid buildup.
  • Checking inside your nose can reveal signs of allergies or infections, such as sinusitis.
  • A quick look at your throat might show signs of infection, such as redness or swelling, which could indicate bacterial or viral illnesses.


Lungs

Using a stethoscope placed against both the chest and the back, doctors listen while you breathe. When everything is working well, they should hear clear sounds of smooth breathing. If they hear wheezes or crackles instead, that may be signs of conditions like asthma or pneumonia.

What are vital signs?

Your vital signs are like a report card for your body’s basic functions. They usually include your heart rate (pulse), blood pressure, respiratory rate (how fast you breathe) and body temperature. These numbers help caregivers and medical professionals understand how well your body is functioning.

  • HEART RATE – This is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. A normal resting heart rate for kids and adults is typically between 60 to 100 beats per minute. If your heart rate is too fast or too slow, it could indicate stress, illness or other health issues. You can learn how to take your own pulse in this article from the Mayo Clinic.



    

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    BLOOD PRESSURE – Blood pressure measures the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. It’s recorded as two numbers: systolic (the pressure when the heart beats) and diastolic (the pressure when the heart rests). Normal blood pressure is around 120/80 mmHg. High or low blood pressure can be a sign of serious health concerns. This handy fact sheet gives more information.
    

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    RESPIRATORY RATE – This is how many breaths you take per minute. A healthy rate for an adult is about 12 to 20 breaths per minute. If you’re breathing too quickly or too slowly, it might be a sign of a respiratory problem or other health issues.
    

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    TEMPERATURE – Your body’s normal temperature is about 98.6°F (37°C), but it can vary. A high temperature could indicate an infection, while a low one might suggest that your body is struggling to stay warm.
    

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Reflexes


Reflexes are an important part of assessing your nervous system. To check them, the doctor might tap your knee with a small hammer to see how quickly your leg jerks. Quick reflexes are a good sign of healthy nerve function. No reflexes or slow reflexes may be a sign of a problem with your nervous system.


 


 


Knowledge is power


These checkpoints help doctors better understand your overall health during an annual physical exam. They can help them find problems early, before they become big issues. So, while going to the doctor might be a bit uncomfortable, knowing and understanding your vital signs and their importance in keeping you healthy can help you feel more informed and in control.


Sources: Mayo Clinic, WebMD, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute