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While many ailments can be cured with rest and fluids or a trip to the primary care doctor,

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more serious or rare conditions call for the training and experience of

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physicians and surgeons who specialize in a particular area of practice.

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All physicians share essential tasks, such as examining patients; taking medical histories;

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using tests to help make a diagnosis; and prescribing medications.

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Specialists have additional training to diagnose and treat ailments in a

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particular organ or area of the body, a type of illness,

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or to treat patients with a special modality.

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Allergists and immunologists treat patients who have immune system conditions.

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Anesthesiologists administer drugs to numb pain during surgery, childbirth, or other procedures.

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They monitor vital signs to ensure patients’ safety under anesthesia.

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Cardiologists specialize in diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels.

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Dermatologists help patients with conditions relating to the skin, hair, and nails.

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Emergency medicine physicians treat patients in urgent medical situations.

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Neurologists specialize in diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system,

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such as Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy.

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Ophthalmologists specialize in conditions of the eye

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and may also fit eyeglasses and prescribe contact lenses.

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Pathologists study the causes of diseases.

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They test body tissue, fluids, and organs and review test results to diagnose diseases.

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Psychiatrists help patients with mental illness,

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using a combination of personal counseling, medication, and hospitalization.

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Radiologists review x rays, ultrasounds,

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and other medical images to diagnose injuries or diseases.

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Doctors of sports medicine help athletes to prevent injuries

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and they also treat sports-related injuries.

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Physicians and surgeons often have long, demanding workweeks.

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The patients cared for by these specialists may be more ill,

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with more serious conditions, than those treated in primary care.

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Specializing in an area of practice requires extensive education and training.

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After a bachelor’s degree, physicians and surgeons earn a medical degree,

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which typically takes four years to complete.

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To learn their specialty requires three to nine years of internship and residency programs.

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Training in a sub-specialization such as infectious diseases

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requires an additional fellowship of one to three years.

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All states require licensure for practicing medicine.