Sign or symptom?

Nursing Students Student Assist

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Is high blood pressure a sign or a symptom?

I realize that a change in blood pressure is a change in body functions and can't really be seen, but it can be measured. :selfbonk: :confused:

Thanks for the help!

Symptoms: subjective

-effects of a disease, changes in body function (pain)

Signs: objective

-changes that can be seen and measured (lesions, etc)

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Specializes in Everything but psych!.

I think you answered your own question. Hypertension is a sign. Vertigo is a symptom. (Course, by the time one gets my age, who knows when they start to change definitions! :rotfl: )

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Specializes in CCRN, CNRN, Flight Nurse.

A 'sign' is what you can see - BP, HR, RR, diaphoresis, cyanosis, etc. A 'symptom' is what the patient tells you - nausea, dizzy, pain, etc.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

Thanks!

I guess what through me off was the change in body functions in the definition we were given for symptoms.

I think taking Microbiology during the summer is giving me brain drain....a symptom LOL

Sign would be the dark circles under my eyes, increased wrinkles from constant reading, and weight gain from lack of exercise (because I'm spending too much time studying!) :rotfl:

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