Often times we entrust our lives to the hands of a doctor; as a result, it is regarded as one of the most noble professions in the world.
In many cases, a doctor’s love and care are sufficient to save a patient’s life.
Just like in the words of the renowned Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Gustav Jung “Medicines cure diseases, but only doctors can cure patients.”
For some patients, doctors can be likened to God’s favourite angels on earth. To others, they are gods.
You can simply refer to them as doctors. However, most doctors have additional training in one or more areas of medicine.
The medical field is made up of many heroic men and women who have spent an average of 10 years training and mastering their craft in specific areas to become specialists; some physicians, others surgeons.
But how well do patients know their doctors and what they do?
For instance, physicians and surgeons are both types of medical practitioners. A physician diagnoses and treats illness, whereas a surgeon operates on patients.
Here, we take a look at the most common types of doctors you’ll likely encounter.
- Neurologist
These are nervous system specialists who work with the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
A neurologist is well-versed in the anatomy, function, and diseases that affect your nerves and nervous system.
Your nervous system serves as the command centre for your body. It governs everything you think, feels, and do, from moving your arm to your heartbeat.
They mostly treat strokes, brain and spinal tumours, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Meanwhile, a neurosurgeon is a medical doctor who performs surgery on the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
- Cardiologist
A cardiologist is a doctor who’s an expert in heart and blood vessel diseases.
A Cardiologist can treat a wide range of heart and vascular problems, including heart rhythm disorders, coronary artery disease, heart attacks, heart defects and infections, heart valve disease, high blood pressure and other heart disorders.
Cardiologists may perform physical examinations, order tests (such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), blood tests, and exercise stress tests), and interpret tests to make a diagnosis.
They also educate on habits that promote heart health such as diet, exercise, reducing stress levels and managing weight.
- Nephrologist
In a time when kidney disease ranks as the 12th leading cause of death globally, a nephrologist might come in handy.
Nephrology, also known as renal medicine, is an internal medicine speciality concerned with kidney care, therefore, nephrologists are doctors who specialise in kidney-related conditions.
They recognise how kidney conditions affect other parts of your body, including autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Hepatologist
Hepatologists are medical doctors who diagnose, treat, and manage problems associated with your liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and pancreas.
Some of the most common health issues they treat include alcohol-related liver disease, hepatitis, and liver cancer.
- Gynaecologist(GYN)
Gynaecologists take care of all women’s health issues. They specialize in female reproductive health.
They diagnose and treat problems with the female reproductive tract. This includes the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and breasts.
Gynaecologists do pelvic exams, Pap tests, cancer screenings, and testing for vaginal infections in order to diagnose and treat endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cysts, and pelvic pain.
They may also care for people with ovarian, cervical, and other reproductive cancers.
Some gynaecologists also work as obstetricians, providing care during pregnancy and childbirth and are referred to as OB/GYN.
- Obstetricians
Obstetricians are doctors who specialise in caring for people during preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, and the first few weeks after childbirth.
Obstetricians have the skills to manage complex or high-risk pregnancies and births and can perform interventions and caesareans.
- Paediatricians
Paediatricians manage medical conditions affecting infants, children and young people.
They understand the rapid physical and mental changes children go through as they grow and assess a child’s health status based on the normal ranges for their age.
- Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who’s an expert in the field of psychiatry — the branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioural disorders and substance use disorders.
They assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological conditions and then diagnose and treat these conditions.
They are often confused for psychologists but psychiatrists typically treat more complex mental health conditions than psychologists, especially ones that require medication
- Anesthesiologist
An anesthesiologist is a medical doctor who specialises in the administration of anaesthesia, the medical treatment that prevents pain during invasive procedures or surgery.
They manage all aspects of a patient’s medical care (blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and heart conditions), while administering an anesthetic before and during the procedure.
- Immunologist
An immunologist treats health issues brought on by immune system problems.
They treat conditions such as respiratory (lung- and breathing-related) diseases, including asthma, sinusitis, and occupational lung disease, eye diseases such as allergic rhinitis or hay fever, skin diseases like eczema and contact dermatitis, severe reactions to medications, food, vaccines, and insect bites, gastrointestinal disorders, and autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis or lupus
- Radiologist
Radiologists are medical doctors who specialize in using medical imaging procedures such as X-rays and ultrasounds to diagnose and treat injuries and diseases.
They diagnose conditions and monitor how the body is responding to treatment, and screen for different conditions, such as breast cancer, colon cancer or heart disease.
- Urologist
A urologist is a medical doctor specializing in conditions that affect the urinary tract(bladder, kidneys, urethra and ureter) and diseases that affect the reproductive system.
Urologists treat common conditions and rarer illnesses that affect everyone and some that affect only men or only women.
Some of these conditions include frequent urinary tract infections, inability to control urination (urinary incontinence), blood in the urine (hematuria), conditions of the male reproductive system, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH, or enlarged prostate), interstitial cystitis (painful bladder).
- Oncologists
An oncologist specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer.
They design treatment plans, offer supportive care, and sometimes coordinate treatment with other specialists while treating a cancer patient.
- Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye and vision care.
They differ from optometrists and opticians in their levels of training and in what they can diagnose and treat.
Some of the most common diseases treated by ophthalmologists are cataracts, excessive tearing (tear duct obstruction), proptosis (bulged eyes), thyroid eye disease, dry eye syndrome and glaucoma.
- Otolaryngologist
Otolaryngologist or ENT is a medical doctor who is focused on the ears, nose, and throat as well as related areas in your head and neck.
They treat conditions such as infections, hearing loss, sinusitis, tonsillitis, snoring or obstructive sleep apnea and tumours.
- Dermatologists
If a patient has issues with skin, hair, and nails, a dermatologist is the right doctor to see.
They also recognize symptoms that appear on your skin which may indicate problems inside your body, like organ disease or failure.
- Dentist
A dentist, also known as a general dentist diagnoses and treats oral health problems. Dentists use regular dental check-ups and cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
They can also perform oral health treatments such as dental fillings, crowns, and bridges.