Many people know the importance of scheduling their general yearly visits with their core health providers—the primary care physician, the dentist, the optometrist, and the gynecologist. However, have you ever experienced a mysterious symptom that left your doctor baffled? Maybe they sent you home, but you still felt that there was something wrong. Have you ever felt that your doctor wasn’t fully addressing your needs as a patient?
Many of us have experienced this, and it’s no surprise that we have. As a community, we are all too familiar with the feelings of medical neglect, discrimination, and misdiagnosis. So, what can you do when your doctor isn’t fully meeting your needs? Visiting a specialist could be a potential solution.
The type of specialist you need will depend on your condition, but there are a few that could help with common symptoms. Have you ever had a consultation with a dietitian? What about a podiatrist or endocrinologist? These three providers specialize in the areas of nutrition, foot health, and hormones, respectively.
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Although you may feel that a visit with these specialists are unwarranted, they could actually be more beneficial than you think. Scheduling appointments with a dietician, a podiatrist, and an endocrinologist could shed some new light on existing or potential health conditions.
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Why Should I see a Dietitian?
A dietitian uses their expertise in food and nutrition to help their clients achieve their health and wellness goals. They work in various environments, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and government agencies, but they also work in privately owned practices, working with individual patients more closely.
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As the Black community continues to be disproportionately affected by high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes, it’s more important than ever to address our eating habits. Interested yet? Check out these Black dietitians who are making space for us. Before you make any commitments, make sure your dietitian is registered, which indicates that they’ve completed the appropriate educational requirements.
Diabetes and Your Feet: What You Don’t Know Will Hurt You
How Can a Podiatrist Help Me On My Health Journey?
Proper foot care is an often overlooked area when it comes to health. Aches, pains, and changes in the skin that are often dismissed can actually be indicative of more concerning issues. As previously mentioned, Blacks are affected at higher rates by diabetes, which often affects foot health. If left untreated, the disease could lead to nerve damage in the foot and even amputations.
In addition to providing foot screenings, a podiatrist can provide helpful tips on how to keep your feet healthy year-round. Additionally, they
can provide services to treat diabetic symptoms.
On a lighter note, podiatrists can also address aesthetic concerns, such as bunions, corns, ingrown toenails, and calluses.
Although these issues aren’t usually painful, they can be unsightly, and may ultimately affect your foot health. So, instead of leaving your foot health in your nail tech’s hands, consider visiting a podiatrist for a more comprehensive approach.
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An Endo-What?
Do you suffer from chronic stress? Do you experience constant fatigue? Did you suddenly gain a couple of pounds?
If so, a visit with an endocrinologist might be what you need. These doctors specialize in hormones and related diseases, which can wreak havoc on your body in different ways.
Our hormones regulate so many systems within our body, and even the slightest change within our internal or external environment can shift our hormonal balance.
Your primary care physician will most likely check your thyroid levels during your routine visit, but there are other tests that can be done to provide a more detailed assessment of all your hormones. With all the problems that a hormone imbalance can create, it can be difficult to identify.
When it comes to health, we can’t limit ourselves to just our routine visits. Pay attention to your body and discuss any concerning changes with your primary care physician. If you’re still not feeling like yourself, a visit with a specialist could provide the insight and relief you’re looking for. Typically, your physician will refer you to the most appropriate specialist, which takes out some of the guesswork. However, you may be able to make an appointment on your own. No matter what, it’s important to be persistent and advocate for yourself, your needs, and your health.
