What phrase best captures the nature of a symptom?

The phrase that best captures the nature of a symptom is one that emphasizes the patient's personal experience of their condition. Symptoms are subjective phenomena that arise from what a patient feels or reports, often indicating how they are physically or mentally affected by a condition. This focus on the patient's perspective distinguishes symptoms from observable signs or clinical findings, which are measurable and can be assessed by a healthcare professional.

In this context, observable physical effects, clinical findings, and diagnostic measurements refer to more objective observations made by medical personnel during examinations, imaging, or laboratory tests. These elements, while important in the overall diagnostic process, do not reflect the inner experiences or feelings of patients, which are crucial in understanding their health status. Therefore, the emphasis on patient-reported conditions encapsulates the essence of what a symptom is, highlighting its subjective and personal nature.