You probably know that primary care doctors treat aches, pains, and colds and give regular check-ups and physicals. But did you know that primary care doctors treat all diseases except for the most uncommon or unusual ones?

Primary care doctors—or general practitioners (GPs)—play an important role in keeping you healthy throughout your life. Your primary care doctor is a champion for your health. They should be your first point of contact when you need services. They can also provide much of the health care you need.

Primary care doctors treat most health problems—from removing a mole to treating thyroid disorders. Some family medicine providers even treat more specialized conditions, including:

Allergies, Hormone imbalances, Diabetes, and Heart disease

Family medicine doctors care for you and your family. They treat people of all ages and genders—from newborns to the elderly. For these reasons, family medicine doctors are a good option for people who’d like to have one doctor care for their entire family.

If you need more specialized care, your primary care doctor can coordinate your care and refer you to a specialist. A specialist is a doctor who has advanced training in a certain area of medicine. Cardiologists, for example, specialize in caring for your heart. Nephrologists specialize in caring for your kidneys.

Specialists have training in caring for certain parts of your body or treating certain diseases.