About This Quiz
Whether it's a headache, a diabetes diagnosis, or an ankle sprain, it's always smart to start with your primary care doctor - but your situation may be better suited for a physician with a specialty.
From pediatricians and OB/GYNs to medical microbiologists and ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeons, there are a lot of medical specialists ready to help diagnose, treat, and prevent any disease or injury you may suffer from, from head to toe.
It wasn't always that way. As far back as the ancient Greeks, physician Hippocrates of Kos is considered the father of modern medicine in the history of medicine and early medical works, but back then, physicians were generalists, helping patients with everything from disease to injury. Otolaryngology is the oldest medical specialty in the U.S., and it wasn't until the 1930s when 13 medical specialties were officially recognized in the United States, with boards established to certify qualified medical professionals.
Let's see if you know your anesthesiologist from your urologist, your podiatrist from your psychiatrist, and everything in between.
Allergies are not only uncomfortable, they can be life threatening. Allergists are doctors who specialize in diagnosing and treating allergies, from asthma to other allergic diseases.
A board-certified sleep specialist is a medical doctor who is trained to help people of all ages with sleep-related conditions, from snoring and sleep apnea to insomnia and narcolepsy. It overlaps with several other specialties, including everything from neurology to psychiatry.
Oncologists are specialists who diagnose and treat tumors and other symptoms of cancer. Oncology has three major areas, ranging from medical and surgical to radiation.
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Fever, ear tugging, and a poor appetite are signs of an ear infection, and as many as three-quarters of American kids will get one by age 3. Pediatricians focus on the physical and mental health of us from birth to young adulthood.
In addition to carefully watching you during your pregnancy and delivery, an Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN) is who you see for their expertise in female reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth. Obstetricians, specifically, take care of women during pre-conception, pregnancy and just after the baby is born.
Andrologists specialize in male health, particularly the male reproductive system and urological problems. Symptoms such as erectile dysfunction and a reduced interest in sex would fall under this specialty.
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From blood cancers such as leukemia to blood disorders like sickle cell disease, hematologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment, as well as prevention, of diseases of the blood.
Periodontists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment, as well as prevention, of periodontal disease, which affects not only the gums but the supportive structures of the teeth. These specialists also treat oral inflammation and are experts in dental implants.
An audiologist can manage any hearing, balance, and general ear issues. Audiology is the branch of medicine that studies, diagnoses, and treats hearing, balance, and their related disorders. Diagnostic tests include those such as tympanometry and pure tone audiometry.
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If you're having a problem with your cardiovascular system, a cardiologist can help. They have extra training to diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
A pulmonologist is a specialist in the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of the lungs, which means they diagnose, treat, and prevent everything from asthma attacks to tuberculosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more.
The doctor who examines any moles, acne and other skin problems you develop is called a dermatologist. Dermatologists also have special training in diagnosing and treating any problems with skin, hair, and nails.
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A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specialized knowledge in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illness. While they can prescribe medication, psychologists cannot.
Physicians who specialize in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are known as physiatrists (and they're also called PM&R physicians). You'd visit a physiatrist for the treatment of either acute or chronic pain.
An intensivist is a board-certified medical doctor who has specialized in the care of critically ill patients. Also known as a critical care physician, you'll find these doctors most often in the intensive care unit.
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A perinatologist is a medical doctor with knowledge in a subspecialty of obstetrics: maternal-fetal medicine. During a high-risk pregnancy, they work with your OB/GYN to diagnose, treat, and prevent any complications.
Many adults see an internist as their primary care provider (PCP). Doctors of internal medicine can handle everything from your routine physical to treating the disease as well as working with you on care for conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
A doctor of podiatric medicine (DPM), also known as a foot and ankle surgeon, studies and treats problems with feet, ankles, and lower extremities. Podiatrists are trained in treating everything from corns and calluses to performing bunionectomies (bunion removal) and more.
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While internists and family physicians can care for you as you age, a geriatrician specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease in older adults. These doctors have special knowledge in the aging process and are experienced in multiple areas including neurology, psychiatry and rehabilitation medicine.
Rheumatologists have had special training in diseases that affect joints, muscles, and bones, including autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis, commonly referred to as rheumatic diseases.
From gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) to cancer screenings, a gastroenterologist is trained in the prevention and management of diseases of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They specialize in keeping your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and the biliary system (which includes the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts) healthy.
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Life-threatening emergencies, like appendicitis, require an emergency physician, who is trained in everything from advanced cardiac life support and resuscitation to trauma care such as broken bones. Emergency doctors work in the emergency department; if you're admitted to the hospital, another physician takes over your care.
Specifically, it's a nephrologist who treats kidney (also known as renal) disease, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Typically, symptoms of kidney disease can be hard to recognize without a doctor's examination.
The immune system is the body's defense against disease. But sometimes it attacks the body instead, causing autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Immunologists are trained to diagnose and treat not just autoimmune diseases but also immune deficiencies, hypersensitivities, and organ transplant rejection.
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A urologist is a physician who specializes in keeping your genitourinary tract healthy. This comprises of the kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands, as well as the urethra and the male reproductive organs. Most commonly, patients often include those with urinary tract infections, kidney stones, bladder control problems, and prostate problems.
Otolaryngology, which is the treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and related parts of your head and neck, has the honor of being the oldest medical specialty in the U.S. Otolaryngologists practice both medicine and surgery.
Unlike optometrists, who are doctors of optometry and focus on regular vision car, ophthalmologists are medical doctors who have specialized in eye and vision care. Although they're trained to perform your basic eye exam, they are also able to prescribe medications and perform surgery. In fact, cataract removal is the most commonly performed procedure.
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Radiologists are medical doctors who have specialized in diagnosing and treating disease and injury through the use of medical imaging techniques, and that means tests such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound among others.
Endocrinology is the study of medicine that relates to the endocrine system, which is the system of glands and organs that make and control hormones. These doctors specialize in disorders including diabetes, pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands among other conditions.
Occupational medicine physicians deal with the prevention and treatment of job-related injuries and illnesses. OEM physicians' focus on health and safety in the workplace means they work with not only employees but businesses, insurers, regulators, and public health officials.
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Hepatologists diagnose and treat disorders of the liver, as well as the gallbladder, biliary tree, and pancreas. They manage problems from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to hepatitis and liver cancer.
These physicians and surgeons specialize in addressing issues associated with athletics, including not only injuries, such as to your Achilles Tendon, but nutrition, sports psychology, and substance abuse. They also advise professional and amateur athletes on injury prevention.
Neonatologists care for newborn infants, in particular those who are premature. Often you'll find this type of physician in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where they treat newborns with conditions such as breathing disorders, birth defects, and infections.
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A neurologist is a doctor who has specialized in diagnosing and treating diseases of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles. These doctors treat everything from migraines to seizures to memory problems.
An orthopaedist is trained to diagnose, correct, and prevent deformities, diseases, and injuries that happen to bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves of the musculoskeletal system. This may occur through the use of braces, casts, and depending on the need, surgery.