Homoeostasis and vital signs: their role in health and its restoration

For many of us, being healthy is being independent of clinical intervention and able to carry out our activities of daily living. Our bodies try to ensure this through a process called homoeostasis, which is often poorly understood. This article explores what homoeostasis is, why it is central to our lives and health, and how it links to the vital signs that inform clinical interventions. Understanding the theoretical underpinning of homoeostasis for health and the use of vital signs for diagnosis is essential for accurate clinical decision-making and the restoration of patients to health.