Final answer:
Signs and symptoms are used to discuss the effects of a condition or disease process on an individual.
Step-by-step explanation:
When discussing the effects of a condition or disease process on an individual, we traditionally use the terms signs and symptoms. Signs are objective indicators of a disease that can be observed or measured by a healthcare professional, such as a rash or elevated blood pressure. Symptoms, on the other hand, are subjective experiences reported by the individual, such as pain or fatigue.
For example, if someone has the condition of diabetes, a sign may be high blood sugar levels detected in a lab test, while symptoms could include frequent urination, excessive thirst, and fatigue.
Using these terms allows healthcare professionals to accurately describe and diagnose a condition or disease by considering both the observable signs and the reported symptoms.