“If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.”

But which one?!

Meet Your General Practitioners

We often call them “family doctors.”

They have been with us for years and have treated our “kuyas,” “ates” and “lolas.”  

As GPs or General Practitioners, they manage a wide array of health concerns and are well-equipped to handle common health issues. We visit their clinics for standard check-ups, when we feel sick, or have a fever or flu.

They are our primary healthcare professionals, skilled at evaluating a broad spectrum of symptoms.

They might ask for lab tests to diagnose what’s wrong. And based on their initial assessment, they can prescribe medication.

If they suspect our ailment requires the eyes of a specialist, they would then refer us to appropriate experts who could more closely assess the condition.

But don’t feel like you’re being passed around or are being milked for money when you’re referred from one specialist to another or are required a battery of tests. 

First, no doctor is all-knowing, so they need test results, i.e. data, to help diagnose many conditions. Second, no doctor is infallible, so they need another’s eyes and experience to shore up a diagnosis.

As much as we know about the human body, we are still learning (and unlearning!) something new every day.    

Meet Your Specialists

The human body is complex, and specialist doctors are those who have devoted additional years of training and study to a specific aspect of medicine.

A cardiologist, for example, specializes in heart-related ailments. (But not heartaches and breakups.)

So as GPs handle a wide buffet of conditions, specialists do a deep dive on a specific part of the body.

Because they are focused on a particular aspect of health, keeping abreast of the latest research and findings in their field, they have the expertise to prescribe the most effective treatments for specific conditions.  

GP or Specialist: Who Should I See?

For new ailments or acute conditions, conditions with non-specific symptoms—going first to a GP is advisable.

For example, you suddenly get recurring headaches. You didn’t have them before, so you think something’s seriously wrong. You don’t immediately rush to a neurologist or a brain doctor, thinking you have a brain tumor.

Visit a GP first for an initial assessment. Your doctor will ask:

“How much water do you usually drink?”

“Are you stressed at work?”

“Are you taking new medication?”

“Are you pregnant?”

He will run some initial tests and diagnose your symptoms.

He will decide based on the results. If you need a second opinion or the services of a specialist, he will shoot you a referral. He’ll facilitate that meet-up or provide you with contact information. (Doctors have professional networks and they know who’s good at what.)

So for new conditions or common symptoms, a general practitioner should be more than competent to provide care and assessment.

But for known or previously diagnosed diseases, you can go to a specialist. Say, you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes before, you can go to a specialist/s.

[There’s a third option though: the ER doctor. This is for suspected conditions of stroke, heart attack, appendicitis, etc. For urgent matters like these, making an appointment is an unnecessary delay. A hasty trip to the emergency room is warranted.]

Parade of Specialists

There are many specialties in medicine.

That’s why you need the guidance of your GP to the right specialist. It’ll lead to a more accurate diagnosis, and more importantly, an appropriate treatment approach for your condition.

In some cases, because the body is such a complex thing, and we don’t know everything there is to know about it, a disease might require the cooperation of a rainbow of specialists.

Diabetes, for example, can have many complications and may need the expertise of an endocrinologist, nephrologist, ophthalmologist, neurologist, or even a podiatrist. They look at the condition from different angles and approaches, and their cumulative wisdom can help the patient get the best and the most tailored care.  

There are as many types of doctors as there are candies in a candy store.

Here’s a list of the most common specializations in medicine.

Note that their prefixes tell you a little something about what they do.

 

1. Cardiologist: Specializes in heart and blood vessel disorders.

Prefix: "Cardio-" (heart)

2. Gastroenterologist: Deals with digestive system issues.

Prefix: "Gastro-" (stomach) + "entero-" (intestine)

3. Oncologist: Focuses on cancer treatment.

Prefix: "Onco-" (mass or tumor)

4. Endocrinologist: Treats hormone-related diseases.

Prefix: "Endo-" (within) + "crino-" (to secrete)

5. Hematologist: Specializes in blood disorders.

Prefix: "Hema-" or "Hemo-" (blood)

6. Neurologist: Treats diseases of the nervous system.

Prefix: "Neuro-" (nerve)

7. Ophthalmologist: Specializes in eye and vision care.

Prefix: "Ophthalmo-" (eye)

8. Orthopedist (Orthopedic Surgeon): Treats musculoskeletal system issues.

Prefix: "Ortho-" (straight) + "ped" (child), originally focusing on correcting deformities in children

9. Otolaryngologist (ENT Specialist): Deals with ear, nose, and throat conditions.

Prefix: "Oto-" (ear) + "laryngo-" (throat)

10. Psychiatrist: Focuses on mental health disorders.

Prefix: "Psych-" (mind)

11. Pulmonologist: Treats respiratory system diseases.

Prefix: "Pulmo-" (lung)

12. Rheumatologist: Deals with autoimmune and joint disorders.

Prefix: "Rheuma-" (flowing or discharge, related to joints)

13. Urologist: Specializes in the urinary tract and male reproductive system issues.

Prefix: "Uro-" (urine)

14. Nephrologist: Treats kidney-related diseases.

Prefix: "Nephro-" (kidney)

15. Dermatologist: Focuses on skin, hair, and nail conditions.

Prefix: "Derma-" (skin)

16. Pediatrician: Provides medical care for children.

Prefix: "Ped-" (child)

17. Obstetrician: Specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care.

Prefix: "Obstet-" (midwife)

18. Gynecologist: Treats the female reproductive system.

Prefix: "Gyne-" (woman)

19. Geriatrician: Focuses on healthcare for the elderly.

Prefix: "Geria-" (old age)

20. Anesthesiologist: Manages anesthesia during surgery and other procedures.

Prefix: "An-" (without) + "esthesia" (sensation)

21. Radiologist: Uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases.

Prefix: "Radio-" (radiation)

22. Pathologist: Studies diseases by examining tissues, organs, and bodily fluids.

Prefix: "Patho-" (disease)

23. Immunologist: Focuses on the immune system and related disorders.

Prefix: "Immuno-" (safe, immune)

24. Infectious Disease Specialist: Treats infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

 25. Allergist: Diagnoses and treats allergic reactions and conditions.

Prefix: "Aller-" (other, different)

26. Hepatologist: Specializes in liver, gallbladder, and pancreas diseases.

Prefix: "Hepato-" (liver)

27. Vascular Surgeon: Specializes in surgical treatment of blood vessels.

Prefix: "Vascul-" (vessel)

28. Thoracic Surgeon: Specializes in surgical treatment of organs inside the thorax (chest), including the heart and lungs.

Prefix: "Thoraco-" (chest)

29. Colorectal Surgeon: Treats disorders of the colon, rectum, and anus.

Prefix: "Colo-" (colon) + "rect-" (rectum)

30. Plastic Surgeon: Performs reconstructive or cosmetic surgery.

  

BloodWorks Lab helps your doctor monitor your health or diagnose medical conditions. We provide a broad range of lab tests and medical screenings, as well as check-up packages.

We are your one-stop shop for all your blood test needs.

BloodWorks was the first in the country to offer the Anti Acetylcholine Receptor (lgG) Antibody Test and the Anti N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor (Anti NMDA Receptor) Antibody Test.

Book your appointment today.

Our branches are in Alabang, Katipunan, and Cebu.