View source for Medicine

{{about|the science|drugs|Medication}}
'''Medicine''' is the science that treats and prevents [[disease]]s in [[human]]s. Medical workers treat [[Injury|injuries]], [[Infection|infections]], and sickness. Medicine also helps people with disease prevention and the best ways to not get sick from [[bacteria]] or [[Virus|viruses.]] Medical doctors also help unhealthy (bad habits, overweight, underweight) people return to a [[healthy]] condition.<ref>Warrell, D. A., Benz Jr, E. J., Cox, T. M., & Firth, J. D. (Eds.). (2003). Oxford textbook of medicine (Vol. 1). Oxford University Press, USA.</ref>

People who practice ''medicine'' are most often called medical doctors or [[Physician|physicians]]. Often doctors work closely with [[nurse]]s and many other types of health care workers.

Many [[Medical doctor|doctors]] specialize in one kind of medical work. For example, [[pediatrics]] is the [[medical specialty]] about the health of [[children]].<ref>Behrman, R. E., & Vaughan III, V. C. (1983). Nelson textbook of pediatrics (No. Ed. 12). WB Saunders company.</ref><ref>Winnicott, D. W. (2014). Through pediatrics to psychoanalysis: Collected papers. Routledge.</ref>

== Specialties in Medicine ==
=== Anaesthesiology ===
An [[Anesthesiologist|anesthetist]] ('''British''' spelling: anaesthetist) is a doctor trained to provide sedation during [[Surgery|surgeries]].<ref>Mashour, G. A., & Engelhard, K. (Eds.). (2019). Oxford Textbook of Neuroscience and Anaesthesiology. Oxford University Press.</ref> This is important for surgeries and certain medical procedures. 

Anesthetists also provide pre-operative assessments, ensuring the patient is safe during any operation, and successfully wakes them from anaesthesia when the procedure is complete. 

Anesthetists assess medical conditions and suitability for [[Anesthetic|anaesthesia]]. They screen for risk factors prior to surgery and try to optimize the operative environment for the patient and the surgeon. This means that if the patient has [[Allergy|allergies]] (for example a latex allergy), none will be present in the operating room. They also monitor for and respond to emergencies during surgery. They are the doctors who prevent or treat pain in different situations. These situations include: giving [[Injection|injections]] into the [[Blood vessel|blood vessels]] or [[fat]], [[Epidural|epidurals]] (pain medications injected into the spine) during labor and delivery in pregnancy; provide spinal blocks; local nerve blocks; and general anaesthesia for procedures. 

They are the doctors who are especially trained in [[intubation]] and ventilation, which is helping the patient breath when they are [[Paralysis|paralyzed]] and asleep during surgery.  Hence, due to their skill in intubation, they can be first line responders for emergencies. They help people who are having [[trouble breathing]] or when their airway has become obstructed (like apnea). The anesthetist is the person responsible for giving injections in such emergencies also. 

Anaesthesiology is the practise of studying anesthesia.

=== Cardiology ===
A [[cardiologist]] is a doctor with special training about the [[heart]].<ref>Park, M. K. (2014). Pediatric Cardiology for Practitioners E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.</ref><ref>Topol, E. J., & Teirstein, P. S. (2015). Textbook of interventional cardiology E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.</ref><ref>Redwood, S., Curzen, N., & Banning, A. (Eds.). (2018). Oxford textbook of interventional cardiology. [[Oxford University Press]].</ref><ref>Chopra, H. K., & Nanda, N. C. (2012). Textbook of cardiology (a clinical & historical perspective). JP Medical Ltd.</ref> The doctor in this field ensures the heart is healthy and functions properly. 

The heart is a vital organ whose role is to pump [[blood]] around the body via the [[Artery|arteries]], and back to the heart by [[Vein|veins]]. The purpose of blood is to deliver [[oxygen]] to the tissues and take out [[carbon dioxide]]. Without the heart functioning well, [[Tissue|tissues]] and [[Organ system|organs]] would die and not function properly. 

Cardiologists treat [[heart attacks]], sudden [[Cardiac arrest|cardiac arrests]], [[Arrhythmia|arrhythmias]] (rhythm issues related to a faulty electrical system of the heart), [[heart failure]] (where the heart fails to pump blood forward properly) and many other heart related illnesses. They specialize in life saving procedures like cardiac [[Stent|stents]] and cardiac [[ablation]]. There is a subspecialty within cardiology called "Interventional cardiology." These are cardiologists who specialize in interventions or procedures to save the function of the heart, such as [[cardiac stenting]] or [[angiography]].

Cardiology is the study of the heart.

=== Cardiovascular surgery ===
{{See also|Cardiovascular system|Cardiovascular disease}}
This specialty consists of well trained doctors who practice cardiac surgery.<ref>Geha, A. S. (1996). Glenn's thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. A. E. Baue (Ed.). Appleton & Lange.</ref><ref>Topol, E. J., & Califf, R. M. (Eds.). (2007). Textbook of cardiovascular medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.</ref><ref>Camm, A. J., Lüscher, T. F., & Serruys, P. W. (Eds.). (2009). The ESC textbook of cardiovascular medicine. OXFORD university press.</ref><ref>Zipes, D. P., Libby, P., Bonow, R. O., Mann, D. L., & Tomaselli, G. F. (2018). Braunwald's Heart Disease E-Book: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine. [[Elsevier]] Health Sciences.</ref> They are best known for their role in cardiac bypass surgeries. In cardiac bypass, the surgeon restores blood flow to the area of the heart that was deficient due to a blocked [[coronary artery]]. This is usually done by taking a vein, most commonly the [[saphenous vein]] from the [[leg]], to create a pathway of blood flow to the heart region that needs it.

=== Dermatology ===

A dermatologist is a doctor that studies different conditions of the [[skin]] and also allergies. This can include allergy-related conditions, [[acne]], inflammatory conditions of the skin, and [[skin cancer]]. They prescribe medications to put on the skin, such as lotions and creams, or pills to treat these different conditions. In a clinical setting they might also test the skin for single or multiple different contact allergies for allergies such as [[pollen]], animals, or [[latex]].

=== Emergency Medicine ===

{{main|Emergency medicine}}
{{see also|Emergency medical services|Emergency medical technician}}
Emergency room doctors (also known as [[Emergency department|E.R.]] Doctors) are in charge of sudden important or life-threatening emergencies.<ref>Fleisher, G. R., & Ludwig, S. (Eds.). (2010). Textbook of pediatric emergency medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.</ref><ref>Cameron, P., Jelinek, G., Kelly, A. M., Murray, L., & Brown, A. F. (2011). Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.</ref> In addition to dealing with heart attacks, strokes, [[Injury|traumas]], or other issues that require immediate medical attention or surgeries, they also deal with a wide range of other health conditions, such as mental health [[Suicide attempt|suicide attempts]] and [[Overdose|drug overdoses]]. 

Their training is broad and diverse, as anyone can walk through the door seeking help. They see patients of all ages and walks of life. However, unlike a general practitioner or family doctor, their immediate goal is to make sure the patient is stable and exclude any serious or life-threatening diseases or [[conditions]].

=== Family medicine ===
A family doctor, otherwise known as general practitioner, is trained to provide medical service to people of all ages, [[demographics]], and walks of life.<ref>McWhinney, I. R., & Freeman, T. (2009). Textbook of family medicine. Oxford University Press.</ref><ref>Freeman, T. R. (2016). McWhinney's textbook of family medicine. Oxford University Press.</ref><ref>Buckingham, J. L., Donatelle, E. P., Thomas Jr, A., Scherger, J. E., & Taylor, R. B. (Eds.). (2013). Family medicine: principles and practice. Springer Science & Business Media.</ref> Their training is diverse to deal with a variety of conditions including all non surgical specialties. They also follow the patient from birth to death and are trained to treat an individual as a whole, in the context of their social setting, their family situation and [[mental health]] and so on. Unlike specialists who mainly deal with problems of one organ or system, family doctors deal with all parts of the body and combine this new information for the patient's general health. They gain a perspective of the person's health as a whole. They can refer to specialists for issues that require more detailed or specialized treatments as part of their treatment options.

=== Gastroenterology ===
Gastroenterologists are doctors who specialize in the gastrointestinal ([[Gastrointestinal system|GI]]) tract and upper [[abdominal]] organs.<ref>Yamada, T., Alpers, D. H., Kalloo, A. N., Kaplowitz, N., Owyang, C., & Powell, D. W. (Eds.). (2011). Textbook of gastroenterology. John Wiley & Sons.</ref> The GI tract is consists of the [[esophagus]] all the way down to the [[anus]]. The upper abdominal organs include the [[liver]], [[Gall bladder|gallbladder]], [[pancreas]] and [[spleen]]. In addition to dealing with medical conditions associated with these organs, doctors in this speciality also perform [[Endoscopy|endoscopies]]. This is where a camera is placed to visualize the esophagus and stomach (upper endoscopy) or the colon (lower endoscopy or [[colonoscopy]]). 

Gastroenterologists that specialize in the liver is called a [[Heptology|Hepatologist]]. They are responsible for treating patients with [[liver failure]] or [[cirrhosis]]. They also treat patients with viral [[Hepatitis]] (A,B,C) and many other forms of liver disease.

=== Infectious Disease ===
Infectious disease specialist M.Ds are doctors that study and treat difficult or rare infections, such as rare tropical diseases, [[Antibiotic resistance|antibiotic resistant bacterial infections]], dangerous [[Virus|viruses]] and other highly [[contagious]] diseases.

=== Internal Medicine ===
{{main|Internal medicine}}
Doctors in this specialty are trained to recognize and treat a variety of different conditions involving the internal organs.<ref>Jameson, J. L. (2018). Harrison's principles of internal medicine. McGraw-Hill Education,.</ref><ref>Longo, D. L., Jameson, J. L., & Kaspe, D. (2011). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine: Volume 2. Macgraw-Hill.</ref> They have wide knowledge in a number of specialties including, but not limited to: [[Respirology]], Nephrology,<ref>McCrory, W. W. (1972). Developmental nephrology (Vol. 27). Harvard University Press.</ref><ref>Phadke, K. D., Goodyer, P., & Bitzan, M. (Eds.). (2013). Manual of pediatric nephrology. Springer Science & Business Media.</ref><ref>Deep, A., & Goldstein, S. L. (Eds.). (2018). Critical Care Nephrology and Renal Replacement Therapy in Children. Springer.</ref> Gastroenterology, Cardiology. 

Doctors who practice broadly in this field are known as General Internists (or General Internal Medicine doctors). Internists can go to receive further training beyond residency in a particular field. For example, Gastroenterologists are internists that have chosen to specialize in GI medicine. 

Internal medicine doctors are in charge of inpatient units when patients are admitted for a general reason. Unlike family doctors and emergency doctors, although their training is diverse and they have broad knowledge in many organ systems, they do not treat or manage children, babies, or pregnant women. (Those patients are instead cared for by Pediatricians and Obstetrics/gynecology, respectively.)

=== Gynecology and obstetrics ===
Doctors in this field, certified as an OB/GYN or Obs/Gyn, specialize in women's health covering conditions of the [[female]] [[reproductive organ]]s, and [[pregnancy]] care and delivery.<ref>Berek, J. S., Adashi, E. Y., & Hillard, P. A. (1996). Novak's gynecology (Vol. 159). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.</ref><ref>Lentz, G. M., Lobo, R. A., Gershenson, D. M., & Katz, V. L. (2012). Comprehensive gynecology e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.</ref><ref>Gabbe, S. G., Niebyl, J. R., Simpson, J. L., Landon, M. B., Galan, H. L., Jauniaux, E. R., ... & Grobman, W. A. (2016). Obstetrics: normal and problem pregnancies e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.</ref> 

Some matters they cover include contraceptive medicine, fertility workup and treatments, [[prolapse]] and incontinence, [[sexual health]], [[Ovarian tumor|ovarian tumors]]/ [[Ovarian cyst|cysts]], gynecological [[oncology]]. They are also surgeons in their fields, capable of performing numerous gynecological surgeries. 

OB/GYNs also practice obstetrical medicine, specializing in maternal fetal care and deliveries, complications related to deliveries, assisted deliveries (such as vacuum and forceps deliveries) and [[Caesarean section|Caesarian sections]].

=== Medical Genetics ===
A medical geneticist is a type of doctor who might see adults, children, or newborns, to determine if a medical condition is caused by a [[genetic condition]] (a change in [[DNA]] or [[Gene|genes]]). 

Medical genetics has different subspecialties for the different types of conditions that are treated. These subspecialties include cancer genetics (counseling for cancer conditions passed down through families), reproductive genetics (counseling for parents who have trouble getting pregnant, or who are tested before planning a pregnancy and found to have genes that may cause a genetic condition in a child such as [[cystic fibrosis]], the commonest genetic condition), or metabolic genetics (counseling and medical treatment for children and adults born with problems in using [[Fat|fats]], [[Protein|proteins]], or [[Carbohydrate|carbohydrates]] from food to make energy).

=== Nephrology ===

[[Nephrology|Nephrologists]] are MDs who specialize in health and diseases of the [[Kidney|kidneys]].

Nephrology is the study of the kidneys.

=== Neurology ===
Neurologists are MDs who study and treat the nervous system, which includes the [[brain]], spinal cord and brain ([[Central nervous system|Central nervous system or CNS]]), and its branches ([[peripheral nervous system]]). Treatment may include medications or surgery.

=== Oncology ===
Oncology is the field of medicine that studies and treats cancer. 

A person that studies cancer is called an [[Oncologist]]. 

=== Ophthalmology ===
This medical specialty consists of doctors who recognize and treat medical conditions associated with the [[eye]]s.<ref>Kanski, J. J., & Bowling, B. (2011). Clinical ophthalmology: a systematic approach. Elsevier Health Sciences.</ref><ref>Glaser, J. S. (Ed.). (1999). Neuro-ophthalmology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.</ref><ref>Gelatt, K. N., Gilger, B. C., & Kern, T. J. (2012). Veterinary ophthalmology (No. Ed. 5). John Wiley & Sons.</ref> Treatment may include medications or surgery.

Some common complaints they see include red eyes ([[conjunctivitis]]), eye pain, visual changes and trauma (damage by an object or person). Ophthalmologists deal with many eye diseases including conjunctivitis, [[iritis]], [[blepharitis]], [[hordeolum]], [[chalazion]], [[glaucoma]], [[Cataract|cataracts]], and so on. Everyone needs medical help with their eyes eventually, and by old age (65 or older) they will have worn down enough to get cataracts.

=== Orthopedics ===
Orthopedists doctors specialising in the treatment of [[Bone|bones]]. They treat broken or fractured bones, [[Musculoskeletal system|musculo-skeletal]] problems and others such as [[osteoporosis]].

=== Otolaryngology ===
These are doctors with special training to treat the [[ear]]s, [[nose]] and [[throat]].<ref>Flint, P. W., Haughey, B. H., Robbins, K. T., Thomas, J. R., Niparko, J. K., Lund, V. J., & Lesperance, M. M. (2014). Cummings otolaryngology-head and neck surgery e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.</ref><ref>Bailey, B. J., Johnson, J. T., & Newlands, S. D. (Eds.). (2006). Head & neck surgery--otolaryngology (Vol. 1). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.</ref><ref>Bluestone, C. D. (2003). Pediatric otolaryngology (Vol. 2). Gulf Professional Publishing.</ref>  These are the doctors who will very commonly remove an organ called the [[Tonsil|tonsils]] from a patient.
<!--


=== Pediatrics ===

=== Geriatrics ===
-->

=== Pathology ===
Pathologists study the reasons things go wrong with the body. They examine tissue samples, look for cancer cell types under a microscope, evaluate DNA samples and many other specimens with advanced laboratory techniques.

=== Psychiatry ===
Psychiatrists are MDs who study and treat [[Behaviorism|behavioral]] and [[Mental disorder|thinking]] disorders.

=== Pulmonary ===
{{See also|Pulmonary agent|Pulmonary disease}}
This medical area, commonly known as chest medicine or respiratory medicine, deals with the [[respiratory system]].<ref>Weibel, E. R. (1984). The pathway for oxygen: structure and function in the mammalian respiratory system. Harvard University Press.</ref> It commonly involves patients who require intensive care including life support and mechanical [[ventilation]]. 

Doctors of this field usually are knowledgeable in [[diseases]] and conditions of the [[chest]], such as [[pneumonia]] or [[asthma]].<ref>National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute. National Asthma Education Program. Expert Panel on the Management of Asthma. (1991). Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma (No. 91). National Asthma Education Program, Office of Prevention, Education, and Control, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health.</ref> Doctors in this field tend to perform minor procedures in surgery of the respiratory tract. Pulmonary specialists often practice critical care medicine. They also manage complicated chest infections.

===Radiology ===
Radiologists are physicians who read and explain medical images such as [[x-ray]] pictures, [[CT scanning|CT scans]], [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRIs]], [[Ultrasound]] images and other diagnostic movies and pictures. They also direct [[Radiation treatment|radiation treatments]] for cancer patients and others.

=== Rheumatology ===
Rheumatologists are doctors that treat [[Autoimmune disease|autoimmune diseases]]. These types of diseases occur because the body sees parts of the body and cells as "foreign" (not part of the body); the [[immune system]] (the part of the body the fights infections) attacks the body and causes problems like pain and difficulty with movement. Rheumatologists also treat certain types of chronic pain conditions.

=== Urology ===
Urologists are doctors who study and treat the urogenital system (and urinary tract. Includes the [[bladder]] down to the [[urethra]] or utherer).

==Related pages==
* [[Health]]
** [[Health care]]
** [[Public health]]
* [[Medical school]]

==References==
{{Sister project links
|n = Health
|s = Category:Medicine
|b = Health science bookshelf
|wikt = Category:Medicine
}}
{{reflist|2}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Medicine| ]]


{{med-stub}}