New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

A symptom refers to a subjective experience or complaint reported by the patient that cannot be observed directly by the EMT or medical professional. In this case, a headache is a classic example of a symptom because it is something that the patient feels, describes, and reports, but it cannot be measured or observed externally.

On the other hand, cyanosis, tachycardia, and hypertension are classified as signs. These are objective findings that can be assessed through physical examination or monitoring. Cyanosis indicates a bluish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygen, tachycardia refers to an elevated heart rate, and hypertension signifies high blood pressure. These are all observable by the EMT or medical professional, making them distinct from symptoms like a headache.