What's with doctors just (for the most part) treating symptoms instead of finding the root causes of the issue?

1 Answer

Answer :

It really depends on if it’s a short term issue or a long term issue (from my experience). With your headache example, if it’s the first time having the problem (and it’s just a headache with no other symptoms going on), it may not necessarily be a sign that there is something else going on that is more serious/long term. So, they treat the headache and tell you to come back if things don’t improve or get worse. Then when you continue to have the headaches, they’ll look into it more. It’s far more likely that it’s just a short term thing than a long term/serious issue.

Related questions

Description : What's the point of making a doctor's appointment if they never see you at that specific time?

Last Answer : According to doctors. they are often dealing with emergencies, etc. I get that, but I still feel like our time as patients is less valued than theirs.

Description : Is it ethical for medical doctors to strike, withholding even emergency care from patients?

Last Answer : It’s a direct violation of the vaunted Hippocratic oath for a doctor to withhold services for any reason other than harming the patient. Do physicians still swear the oath?

Description : When doctors make patients come in to get test results, is it ever good news?

Last Answer : answer:It's always good news for the doctor's billing system. I get a PSA test regularly and am informed enough to know what the results mean. My doctor's office now posts results online at ... an office that is. Things will not change until you, the customer, start demanding it. Good luck.

Description : Where can I find a Medical Doctor's (M.D.'s) who has a Ph.D's as well in Medical Science?

Last Answer : I think medical researchers are usually MD PhD’s. I’m not 100% sure though.

Description : Is there a way to find out who the best doctors in a given field really are?

Last Answer : Ask other doctors and nurses. Doctors are often considered good if they have good bedside manner. That is practically irrelevant. I want someone who is a good scientist and is willing to dig and who ... friends or kids' doctors etc who they would go for. It is the private reputations you seek.

Description : Do you think doctors should be held responsible for their patients overdosing?

Last Answer : A great big, very loud NO.

Description : If you had clean urine and added a crushed hydro into it would it show on a drug test at a doctors office?

Last Answer : It would show up but the concentration would be way off what should show up since it hasn’t been through any filtering in your body. Why would you need to test positive for it?

Description : To what extent can doctors treat themselves?

Last Answer : answer: For, even if the rule is justified and codes of ethics are explicit in this regard, the rule doesn't hold up in everyday life, as most physicians have already broken the rule at one time ... self-treatment occurs much more frequently than we think and much more often than we admit. Pub Med

Description : If you are an organ donor, do ER doctors not try as hard to save you?

Last Answer : Don’t they work on a bonus scheme , the more parts they harvest the bigger the pay ?

Description : What other major medical institutions, besides Johns Hopkins, salary their doctors rather than pay on a fee for service basis?

Last Answer : Mayo is also salary-based. There is an argument (and a strong one) that salary-ing doctors is a good, good idea, because if you pay them by patients seen or by tests/etc proscribed, they ... large salaries to its doctors because it saves a lot of money by not running millions of needless tests.

Description : From a med student's point of view, which doctors are the lightweights?

Last Answer : Chiropractors? Or so I’ve heard… What kind of school do they go to? Is this even a med profession? I don’t know. Note: I am not a med student, but felt like answering anyway.

Description : Why is there a serpant on the doctors symbol?

Last Answer : That would be the Rod of Asclepius... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rod_of_Asclepius

Description : Scientists/Doctors started treating the first patient with stem cells; people of other religions, how do you feel about this?

Last Answer : ^ Anyone want to explain the vomiting punctuation in that last comment?

Description : Scientists/Doctors started treating the first patient with stem cells; people of other religions, how do you feel about this?

Last Answer : ^ Anyone want to explain the vomiting punctuation in that last comment?

Description : looking for doctors who specialise in treating vertigo in GEORGIA

Last Answer : Need Answer

Description : Is it possible to prevent or avoid heart attack, after you notice the symptoms of it?

Last Answer : You could try taking 1 baby aspirin per day (or at the onslaught of heart attack symptoms) if you’re not already taking a blood thinner.

Description : A close family member has strep throat and now I'm beginning to show minor symptoms. What can I do to prevent it?.

Last Answer : They would do a strep test and unless it shows positive for strep then they probably wouldn’t do anything.

Description : Could Advil be causing my symptoms?

Last Answer : answer:4-6 a week doesn't sound like a lot to me. I have absolutely no idea if they could be related. It might be interesting for you to keep a log for some data to support or deny ... burning during urination, assuming that it is not an infectious cause (which you will find out sooner or later).

Description : What are the first symptoms of Lyme Disease?

Last Answer : Here is the American Lyme Disease Foundation list of symptoms

Description : What medicines can a pregnant girl take for cold symptoms?

Last Answer : answer:What does her doctor say about using her inhaler while she's pregnant? Really, she needs to see her doctor. Medical questions like this on a q&a board . not a good idea. It could be her asthma, ... the asthma. 2. Go to a doctor and get her questions answered as well as a good check up.

Description : Are colds contagious after symptoms are showing?

Last Answer : answer:Yes, colds are contagious after you have symptoms. As a matter of fact, once you have nasal symptoms (drizzling/sneezing), you are more contagious, not less. This is why people should use their elbow to cover their sneezes & coughs.

Description : Strange symptoms after head CT?

Last Answer : Your experience would have nothing to do with the CT scan.

Description : What symptoms define a sinus infection to you?

Last Answer : answer:To me, a sinus infection equals 1)Sinus drainage 2)Stuffy nose 3)Sinus pressure 4)Soar throat So with those new symptoms, it would probably be a good idea to go to a doctor and make sure that it’s still just a sinus infections.

Description : Mmmm are these symptoms common for a cold?

Last Answer : If I die, I would like to donate all my Lurve to charity.

Last Answer : Suddenly Weight Decreased To go In cancer Infected Of man Weight Suddenly By Decreased Goes. You If To understand Yes , any Because Without Yours Weight Decreased Going Then Understand This Of cancer ... The doctor Advice Take it. Always I think so Keep it primary Treatment Cancer Healing Possible.

Last Answer : Chest Pain : Heart Attack The first, Chief Symptoms Is Chest Pain. Usually Chest In the middle From Extreme Stress Pain Felt Is. Gently Gently That Pain In the jaw Or Left Shoulder, In the arm Spread ... Any Because Neglect Do No. Above Any A Because See To give With With Physician Advice Take it.

Last Answer : Diabetes Symptoms: Dense Dense Urine To be Extra Thirsty Laga Extra Hunger Increased To go Exhausted, Fatigue Feelings Excessive Weight Decrease Numbness Vision Jump Become To go Disease Resistance Power ... the blood Sugar Amount Test By Knowingly Take it You In diabetes Infected What? No.

Last Answer : In the blood Of bilirubin Dimensions Increased If you can Jaundice See Gives 3 Us Of blood Red The particles One In time Normal As a rule Broke down Going Bilirubin Made By Which Next In the liver Processed Become ... White Become To go 6 ) Sara In the body Itching Is. 6 ) Liver Tough Become To go

Last Answer : In general Dengue Symptoms Being Fever. 101 Degree From 102 Degree Temperature To stay Can Fever Continuous To stay Maybe , again Sweat With Fever Leave To give After Again Fever To come Can Of With In the body ... On the skin Reddish To be a rash _ _ Can However These No. Even if Dengue To be Can

Description : sinusitis Of Symptoms What? What ? Details To know Would like

Last Answer : us Of the face Bone Inside How many? Hollow Place There is Him Sinus Says. No Due If Of the sinuses In Wounds Or Inflammation Is Then Him Sinusitis Says. Problems Or Of disease Because Teeth , eyes ... Of operation Need To be Can Source : http://www.infokosh.gov.bd/atricle/ Sinusitis ( Collected )

Description : What causes waking with up with severe pain in the head, and then pain going away if you stay awake?

Last Answer : Sounds like something to do with having your head in a different position, but the only answer to excrutiating pain in the head has got to be – see a doctor.

Description : What causes toenails get stuck to the flesh, to grow upward (thicken)? See detail?

Last Answer : answer:I don't know about the other two, but fungus can cause a nail to thicken. I'm not sure what you mean by upward in this case, but fungus will also raise the nail higher on the toe ... also cause toenails to turn in weird directions if they're worn too long and the nails aren't cut regularly.

Description : What causes the flu virus to become dormant?

Last Answer : So we know that the flu goes dormant during the summer for the most part, but not why exactly (according to Wikipedia). I won't just copy the entire article here, but it's interesting and I ... The researchers did not find that the cold impaired the immune response of the guinea pigs to the virus.

Description : What's the part of the brain (I believe it's located in the parietal lobe) that remembers fearful events?

Last Answer : Nevermind.

Description : Please what are the symptoms of ADHD in children that i should look out for. And also what types of food should i give or avoid giving my child that could help in treating ADHD symptoms.?

Last Answer : Diet info here www.vaxa.com/ADHD-diet-information.cfm www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_signs_symptoms.htm for symptoms

Description : Which of the following statements is NOT true about diabetes mellitus? A) Type II diabetes is much more common than type I. B) Insulin injections are required in both type I and type II ... -sugar diet. E) Symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, and glucose in the urine.

Last Answer : B) Insulin injections are required in both type I and type II diabetes.

Description : The following is correct about antipsychotic drugs except: A. They only control symptoms of schizophrenia without affecting the basic disorder B. Combination of two or more antipsychotic drugs is ... psychosis high potency drugs are preferred over low potency drugs D. They donot produce dependence

Last Answer : B. Combination of two or more antipsychotic drugs is more efficacious than any single drug

Description : What's the difference between "pet therapy" and just hanging out next to an animal?

Last Answer : answer:I think you are so right. People charge you $75 to pet their dogs???? ruff

Description : Would it be better if doctors clinics were open 24 hours instead of having people go to emergency departments?

Last Answer : Better for whom? Patients? Maybe, but it doesn’t sound practical to me from the doctors’ perspective. It wouldn’t save them money or free resources because the doctors’ offices would need enough employees to staff their office 24/7 and would have to pay those people.

Description : Why, when dealing with the elderly in a hospital, do doctors insist on talking to the family instead of the patient, when they are lying right there?

Last Answer : Because the elderly person’s hearing aids weren’t in? I don’t know Judi…I’ve only gone to the hospital twice with Mom, and both doctors and the staff directed their questions to her, not me.

Description : Why do doctors use Beam Balance Scales instead of digital scales?

Last Answer : Because they are more exact than digital ones.

Description : What part of the brain controls the release of happy hormones and depressing hormones?

Last Answer : The limbic system is responsible for mood regulation, memory, and stress reactions, and the endocrine system is responsible for hormone production and release.

Description : Have you ever been part of a "class action lawsuit"?

Last Answer : No, I haven’t.

Description : Does anyone take anti-anxiety meds as part of their daily regime?

Last Answer : I take Ativan daily. For right now, the anxiety attacks have been so severe that my doctors thinks it’s best if I just fend them off from happening.

Description : Do pain killers go exactly where the pain is and just tackle the pain?

Last Answer : Pain killers go into your blood; your blood goes everywhere. Novocain is injected into the pain site (or what will be the pain site) when the Dentist gets ready to drill out your cavity.

Description : Is it possible that anti-depressants/psychotics/etc are really just placebos?

Last Answer : Some of them do work for some people for sure. Not just placebos. It can take a while for the medication to kick in and not all drugs are the right ones for all individuals. Each perosn’s experience can be different but I know people for whom they help.

Description : Is Alcohol helpful in my love life or just dangerously close to destroying me?

Last Answer : answer:Man, stay off the booze until you get past your ex. Your alcohol driven “forgiveness” is only good until you sober up. Then you are filled with renewed resentment and also anger at yourself.

Description : When you feel a cold coming on, or you've just been exposed, what steps do you take?

Last Answer : Pepto Bismal , ginger ale and chicken noodle soup. Also a warm bed.

Description : Ammonia based cremes erase itching. Can pee be used just as effectively?

Last Answer : If it was a wild animal that bit you, you should be more concerned and opt for medical attention and a series of rabies shots…if it was your S/O that bit you I would rub some dirt on it and take them out to dinner more often.

Description : I just had a colonoscopy. Now I have what looks like rope burns on my belly near my groin. What happened?

Last Answer : answer:On your skin, rather than inside your intestines? Very odd and very alarming. I have had two colonoscopies and found the procedure itself painful in spite of the sedation, and was very, ... tomorrow asap and complain loudly. Clean the area and put some triple antibiotic cream on the wounds.