A general check-up before seeing a specialist

You do not always know which specialty you need. A general practitioner or internist provides an initial assessment and points you to the right specialty.

A general check-up usually includes taking your history, measuring vital signs, and a few basic tests. From there the doctor narrows down the problem.

This helps you avoid scattered visits to many places and saves cost and time.

Describe all symptoms honestly, even those you think are unrelated. Sometimes a small detail turns out to be important.