Types of medicine: what areas are there?

Medicine is a broad and diverse area, which we can divide into types of medicine, according to the different specialties that address different aspects of human health.

For the medical students, it is important to know each of the areas so that they can choose which specialty they will work on in the future.

Each of these specialties focuses on specific aspects of human health, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease.

11 types of medicine

Now let's understand what branches and types of medicine exist, their main characteristics and importance in health.

1 – Allergy and immunology

Allergy and immunology is an area related to the body's immune system responses to foreign substances. 

This area explores the complexities of the immune system and its responses to allergens that trigger attacks and allergies.

Doctors in this type of medicine are responsible for identifying these allergens, creating treatments and developing therapies that can improve the quality of life of allergy sufferers.

2 – Orthopedics

Orthopedics is a specialty that focuses on diagnosing, treating and preventing diseases and conditions that are related to bones and muscles, treating ligaments, bones, joints and tendons.

Professionals work on illnesses such as growth problems, arthritis, fractures, dislocations and others.

They work together with other professionals to ensure complete service, such as physiotherapists and angiologists.

3 – Neurology

Dedicated to the study and treatment of diseases that affect the nervous system, whether central, autonomic or peripheral, Neurology will help people who have disorders such as Parkinson's, migraines, stroke, multiple sclerosis and others.

The nervous system can affect bodily functions, thinking, memory, coordination, and other areas that affect our quality of life and behavior.

4 – Dermatology

To take care of your skin, hair, nails and other mucous membranes, the recommended professional will be a dermatologist.

The professional who works in this type of medicine will study, diagnose and treat the largest organ in the human body: the skin.

Dermatologists are specialists who are trained to treat a variety of conditions, including acne, psoriasis, dermatitis, skin cancer, skin infections, skin allergies, and skin aging.

5 – General clinic

General practitioners are the first advocates for health, responsible for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a variety of medical conditions.

They generally work in hospitals in the emergency room as they are able to offer primary care. They are responsible for referring people to the most suitable specialists for the conditions they suffer from.

6 – Ophthalmology

Ophthalmology is a medical specialty dedicated to eye health. Anyone suffering from vision problems will need to see this specialist.

He can diagnose common vision problems such as myopia or astigmatism, but also more complex and serious diseases, such as glaucoma, cataracts and retinal degeneration.

In addition to prescribing glasses, ophthalmologists can order tests, treat infections such as conjunctivitis, perform surgeries and prescribe contact lenses.

7 – Otorhinolaryngology

Otorhinolaryngology is the area that treats and prevents conditions related to the ears, nose and throat.

ENT doctors treat conditions such as ear infections, deafness, sinusitis, nasal allergies, swallowing disorders, voice disorders, sleep apnea, head and neck cancer, and more.

They can also perform surgical procedures if necessary, such as correcting a deviated septum, tonsil surgery, or hearing restoration.

8 – Gynecology and obstetrics

Obstetrics and gynecology is an important specialty for women, as it focuses on their health at all stages of life, from adolescence to menopause and beyond.

This specialty also extends to the prevention of more complex diseases, cancers and also to the teaching of contraceptive methods.

The specialty extends to two main areas, gynecology related to women's health and their reproductive system, while obstetrics focuses on all matters related to pregnancy.

Doctors in this area will work on menstrual diseases and disorders, such as endometriosis, infections and anything related to fertility.

9 – Pediatrics

Pediatrics is a specialty focused exclusively on the treatment of children and adolescents up to 12 years of age.

Pediatric doctors, or pediatricians, are specialists trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent a wide range of diseases and conditions that affect this specific age group.

They treat not only physical health, but also emotional and social health, referring patients to other specialist doctors, such as psychologists, pulmonologists, allergists and others as necessary.

10 – Endocrinology and metabolism

This specialty focuses on the study of the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production and regulation of hormones in our body. Specialists in this area will diagnose, treat and prevent various hormonal and metabolic disorders.

They are the professionals who will treat diabetes, hypo and hyperthyroidism, as well as chronic diseases that affect this area.

They can request tests, prescribe treatments and therapies to regulate unregulated hormones, aiming to bring balance to the body.

11 – Cardiology

As important as all other specialties, cardiology is responsible for diagnosing, treating and preventing all diseases related to the heart.

They treat chronic heart disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease and arrhythmias, and can also perform surgical procedures to treat more serious conditions.

It is the role of cardiologists to also guide their patients so that they can adopt healthier habits, such as in their diet, physical exercise and stress control.

Medicine is a very diverse area that covers physical, emotional and psychological issues for the most diverse groups that need attention, such as pediatrics for children and geriatrics for the elderly.

Other types of medicine

Furthermore, medicine continues to evolve, creating new specialties as research advances and the health needs of the population change.

There are many more than 11 specialties available, we can find many others such as:

• Nephrology;
• Urology;
• Anesthesiology;
• Hematology;
• Oncology;
• Pulmonology;
• Rheumatology;
• Geriatrics;
• Nutrology;
• And many others.

During the medical school, internships and residencies, future doctors come into contact with the most diverse areas so that they can have different experiences and be able to choose which path to follow.

Each of these aspects is crucial to promoting overall well-being and health quality. Anyone may need each of the types of medicine mentioned here, and all are important for comprehensive and integrated care.