5 Medical Specialists You Should Know and When to Visit Them
Wednesday 21 March 2018 - fordoctor
In life the most important thing is your health. Like the elders say health is wealth, this phrase is completely true and you need to look after yourself by having regular medical check-ups. You don’t have to wait till you start having a symptom or the other before deciding to visit the clinic. You need to regularly check in for doctors’ professional advice, guidance, and treatment. Some conditions can be very detrimental in the long term and may cause bigger problems than expected. There are different specialists for different parts and organs of bodies. Some of the medical specialists and why one may consider visiting are as follows.
#1: Dentist
This is the health practitioner that cares for our teeth. They help you prevent decay and other problems of the teeth. According to research, about 32% of people living in the United States are concerned by the look of their teeth. But only a few people love to sit in the dentist’s chair while a majority forgoes their visits to the dentist as a result of fear, cost, and other priorities. A lot of people don’t even know how often they should fix appointments with their local dentists. Therefore, if you can’t remember the last time you visited a dentist for a dental exam, then it is high time you visited your local clinic for an oral checkup. Why you need to visit your dentist
According to the American Dental Association, it is recommended that you should visit a dentist at least once a year, though twice a year is an excellent start. However, there is no ideal recommendation for every individual. It doesn’t matter whether you floss or brush your teeth at home. The following are the reasons why you should visit the local dentist every six months:
To prevent tooth decay – Improving your oral health is essential to prevent tooth decay. Therefore, a visit to your dentist at least twice every year will help you to avoid dental cavities and other problems.
To prevent gum disease – Only a dentist is trained to notice the first signs of gum disease long before it develops into a severe problem. Gum disease can cause your gums to swell and turn red, making it painful for you to consume food. Your dentist can offer suggestions on how to prevent this condition and also help you clean your teeth.
To stop plaque – Do you know that sticky deposit that sticks to your gum line and teeth? That is a plaque, and it contains lots of harmful bacteria. If you allow plaque to accumulate on your teeth, it can lead to what is known as ‘tartar’ and is known to darken the teeth. Irregular brushing is one among several causes of plaque and studies have revealed that at least one in four adults do not brush their teeth twice daily. When you visit your dentist twice a year, plaque will be stopped, and your teeth cleaned.
To improve your smile – You can join the ranks of celebrities who love to flaunt their pearly white teeth without having to break the bank. By visiting your local dentist every six months, your smile can be improved when you undergo several treatments that will brighten, whiten, and clean your teeth. According to a research conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, about 96% of adults believe that attractive smiles make one look charming and appealing. 74% of adults believe that unattractive can smiles reduce an individual’s chances of becoming a career success.
To save money in the future – When you identify oral-related problems at an early stage, you end up saving a lot of money at the end of the day. Regular maintenance and care of your teeth minimize the chances of developing oral-related problems. This will also help to erase the need for spending money on expensive dental work like tooth extraction, etc. but when you visit your dentist every six months, you will be able to avoid such costly treatments.
#2: Optometrist
How often you visit your optometrist depends on your family and medical history. The eye doctor is also responsible for making the final call. Moreover, your environment and risk factors can also influence your optometrist’s instructions.
Eye exams involve numerous tests which include ‘letter chart’ or vision screening as well as other procedures which are designed to ascertain eye and vision issues. These tests are crucial to recognize eye problems before they become more severe and cause you to spend more money.
This is why health practitioners recommend that patients should go for an eye examination at least once every year.
#3: Gynecologist
A gynecologist is a doctor for women. This specialist has undergone training on the branch of medicine that covers the health of women, but most especially on the health of the female reproductive organs.
Every woman should make time to visit their gynecologist at least once a year for regular health assessments, according to the ACOG (American College Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Annual visits usually include a routine internal examination of the pelvic region. However, this is open to debate. A recent study has shown that yearly pelvic exams are not beneficial for low-risk and healthy women and could even bring about distress, discomfort, and unnecessary surgeries according to the American College of Physicians. Despite this revelation, however, the ACOG still recommends that women that are at least 21 years of age should visit their gynecologists on a yearly basis.
Annual visits to your gynecologists may not always result in pelvic examinations, but it is essential nonetheless. For instance, yearly visits to your doctor can result in getting your breasts examined as well as to discuss your contraception options, sexual and mental health as well as any other risk factors that could spring up without warning later. So, having your pelvic region examined is up to your gynecologist and you.
Furthermore, annual visits to your doctor will also shed light on your family age and history about cancer screening discussions. Pap smear is also a procedure that can be undertaken by a gynecologist. This is a procedure used to search for cervical abnormalities but is usually carried out once every five years for women in good physical shapes aged from 21 to 65. Your gynecologist has to help you decide or pick the right time to start carrying out annual mammograms – usually for low-risk women between ages 40 and 50 – as well as how often. Sexually active women or those with multiple partners also need to undergo regular screenings for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) annually. #4: Dermatologist
Research has shown that at least one in five Americans is at risk of developing skin cancer; therefore, it is crucial for you to visit a dermatologist at least once every year. It does not matter whether or not you are an ardent user of suntan creams; you need to submit to a full-body examination, especially if you have a family history of skin cancer. If you also notice the growth of numerous moles on your skin, then seeing a dermatologist even more frequently is paramount.
You should also be very observant or quick to take note of any growth or spot that appears on your skin and changing shape daily so that you can quickly fix an appointment with your skin specialist. You can also ask your physician to teach you how to examine your skin by yourself. Early detection is more plausible if you know how to perform skin self-examination, though professional evaluations should not be taken for granted as well.
#5: ENT Specialist
This doctor will help you sort out problems of the ear, nose, and throat. If you have a sore throat that is stubborn, you might have tonsillitis. You may have a tight septum if you have problems breathing through your nose. This Doctor will also look after your ear if you have hearing problems. For the elderly who can’t listen fully, an ENT might prescribe hearing aids. If you need to clear your ear from wax, an ENT will help.
There are also some other health professionals that play a vital role in ensuring a healthy life including dentists, nephrologists, and psychologists. You must have regular visits in case you have a health problem. Your regular visit to the doctor will ensure your safety and longevity of life. A specialist doctor will help you improve your quality of life.
French
Deutsch
English
Dutch