Signs vs. Symptoms: Here’s Why They’re Different

When you see your provider for a health-related issue, they often ask what symptoms you’re having. Or you might wonder if the headache you’re having is a sign of an illness. Are symptoms and signs the same thing?

These two words are often used interchangeably, but they’re not the same. And providers often use both to determine what could be ailing you. Internal medicine physician Manjaree Daw, MD, clears up the confusion around signs vs. symptoms and explains why they both matter.

What’s the definition of symptoms?

Symptoms are things you feel but others may not always be able to see or measure.

“Symptoms refer to your experience,” says Dr. Daw. “These things are very real, even if other people can’t see them. Symptoms alone can’t diagnose a disease, but they help providers determine next steps for tests or treatment.”

Symptoms are also subjective, meaning they’re based on opinions and feelings, and can vary from person to person.

“Two people can have the same disease but different symptoms,” explains Dr. Daw. “One person may report back pain, while another reports fatigue.”

Pain is a common symptom.

“But we can’t take a picture of it or detect it with a test,” she continues. “We might perform an X-ray, but the images show the cause, like a broken bone, not the pain itself.”

Symptoms can range from annoying to life-altering, so usually, we prefer to not have them them. But unfortunately, being symptom-free doesn’t always equal perfect health either.

“Many diseases are asymptomatic, meaning they have no symptoms,” Dr. Daw notes.

High blood pressure is a prime example of an asymptomatic condition that you may have for years until it has done severe damage to multiple organs. You can’t feel it for a while, but it can be serious.

“Many people don’t know they have high blood pressure until their physician checks it at an appointment,” she illustrates.

Examples of symptoms

Common examples of symptoms include:

• Dizziness
• Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
• Fatigue
• Feeling “off” or unwell
• Headache
• Muscle cramps
• Nausea
• Pain or numbness anywhere on your body, such as your back, chest, arms or legs
• Tinnitus (sounds or ringing in your ears)

Symptoms can also be grouped into subcategories, including:

• Acute. Acute symptoms come on quickly and are often severe. “Acute symptoms are issues that started recently and suddenly,” reiterates Dr. Daw. “A virus like the common cold or the flu will cause acute symptoms.”
• Chronic. If you have chronic symptoms, they’re long-lasting and usually develop slowly. “Seasonal allergies may cause chronic sinus pain, which can last for weeks, months or longer,” Dr. Daw shares.
• Relapsing. If symptoms get better completely but come back later, you may have relapsing symptoms. “A relapse is when symptoms return after a period of improvement,” she explains. “A relapse of symptoms can also be called a flare-up.”
• Remitting. Remitting symptoms get somewhat better at least for a period of time before coming back.

What’s the definition of signs?

Signs are things others can see or observe that may point to a possible health issue.

“A high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level on a blood test is a sign of a prostate problem,” says Dr. Daw. “Scaly or flaky skin plaques may be a sign of psoriasis.”

Some signs can predict future health conditions or give clues about something that affected you in the past.

“High triglycerides on a blood test are a sign that you have a higher risk of developing diabetes, stroke or heart disease,” she notes. “An EKG done at your physician’s office can show signs of a silent heart attack that you had months or even years before.”

Unlike symptoms, you don’t always feel signs. In fact, in many cases, your provider is the first one to spot them.

“You can feel well and still have signs of a disease,” says Dr. Daw. “And we often find important signs during check-ups.”

For example, you may have an abnormal spot on your skin that you never noticed before. Your provider finds it during a full-body skin cancer screening, and test results show it’s skin cancer. Similarly, finding an abnormality on a mammogram could be a sign of breast cancer or a benign breast disease.

“Some diseases can only be detected through signs on medical tests,” she adds. “That’s why it’s important to see your provider regularly, even when you feel well. We look for signs that aren’t always visible or obvious.”

Examples of signs

Examples of signs include:

• Abnormal results on a complete blood count (CBC), such as low hemoglobin or high red blood cells
• “Crackling” or wheezing lung sounds heard through a stethoscope
• Confusion or behavior changes
• Drooping on one side of your face or body
• An enlarged liver your provider finds during a routine exam
• An abnormality on an imaging test, such as a mammogram, MRI or X-ray
• High or low blood pressure
• Rapid, slow or irregular heart rate
• Rash or skin discoloration

Be open with your provider about symptoms

Symptoms and signs are pieces of your overall health picture. By seeing your provider regularly, you can put these pieces together to achieve better health and quality of life.

“When you see your healthcare practitioner for check-ups, don’t hold back any information about symptoms, even if they seem minor,” stresses Dr. Daw. “Many people downplay their symptoms because they think they’re not serious enough. But what you feel affects your daily life — and you deserve to feel well.”