Symptom guides: which doctor treats what

Last updated: August 12, 2026 · Reviewed by the PickTheDoc.com team · Editorial policy

Each guide below explains what a symptom usually means, which type of doctor treats it, and the warning signs that call for urgent care instead. To check several symptoms at once, use the symptom finder.

Heart and lungs

• Chest pain

  Usually a cardiologist. Can also be digestive, lung, or muscular.

• Shortness of breath

  Cardiologist or pulmonologist, depending on the pattern.

• Chronic cough

  Pulmonologist for a cough lasting more than eight weeks.

Brain, nerves, and eyes

• Frequent headaches and migraines

  Neurologist for recurring or worsening headaches.

• Dizziness and vertigo

  ENT for true spinning vertigo, neurologist for other patterns.

• Blurred vision

  Ophthalmologist for vision changes glasses do not fix.

Bones, joints, and muscles

• Back pain

  Orthopedist, or neurologist if nerve symptoms are present.

• Joint pain

  Orthopedist for injury, rheumatologist for many joints.

Digestion

• Abdominal pain

  Gastroenterologist for persistent pain.

• Acid reflux and heartburn

  Gastroenterologist when heartburn is frequent.

Skin and hair

• Skin rash

  Dermatologist for rashes lasting more than two weeks.

• Hair loss

  Dermatologist for thinning, patches, or heavy shedding.

Urinary and pelvic

• Painful urination

  Urologist, or primary care for a first infection.

• Pelvic pain

  OB-GYN in women, urologist in men.

Ears, nose, and throat

• Ear pain

  ENT for persistent or recurring ear pain.

Mental health and sleep

• Persistent anxiety

  Psychiatrist or therapist when worry disrupts daily life.

• Depressed mood

  Psychiatrist or therapist for low mood lasting two weeks or more.

• Insomnia and sleep problems

  Psychiatrist or sleep specialist for chronic insomnia.

Try the symptom finder