Medical is a broad term that covers many different areas of healthcare, health science and medical practice. Health professionals use medical tools, diagnostic equipment and medicines to treat a disease or prevent its recurrence.
Medicine has a long history of being both an art (involving creativity and skill) and a science (with testable results). In the past, physicians often followed pre-modern traditions based on herbalism or the ancient Greek humours, for example, bloodletting to balance the four bodily fluids. However, modern scientific biomedical research has increasingly replaced them, enabling physicians to diagnose and treat diseases using medications or surgery.
There are a number of different fields within medicine, including nutrition, pathology and pharmacology. Nutritionists study how diet and food influence health, while pathologists investigate the causes of disease by analysing samples such as blood, urine or body tissue to help doctors determine what a patient may be suffering from. Pharmacology is the study of pharmaceutical drugs, where they come from and how they work in the human body. It has become more sophisticated, with modern drug design focusing on specific physiological processes and being designed for compatibility with the human body to reduce side effects.
The field of medicine also includes a variety of specialty areas such as gynecology, cardiology and aerospace medicine. Each of these fields requires specialised knowledge, techniques and equipment. Medical is also an area of interdisciplinary science, with physicians working in teams to help diagnose and treat patients.
Medications are a vital part of the healthcare industry. Doctors prescribe medications to treat illness, relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. There are a wide range of medications available to treat conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and pain. They are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies which are regulated by the FDA to ensure they meet stringent safety standards.
For those looking for a more natural approach to managing their health, cannabis has been proven as an effective alternative to prescription medication. EndeavorRX, a company based in Ohio, is aiming to take the natural approach to mental health even further with its FDA-approved video game that can be prescribed by doctors. The player must complete a series of tasks to advance through the game, which is designed to reduce ADHD symptoms in kids by improving their ability to pay attention and focus.
The field of medicine is continually evolving and changing. New developments in genetics, evolution and molecular biology are impacting medical technology, treatment and decision-making. Increasingly, the human genome is being mapped which will allow scientists to better understand how diseases develop and how they can be prevented. This will lead to more personalised medicine in the future. In addition, advances in materials and manufacturing are making it possible to develop more lightweight and comfortable medical devices which are able to be used over longer periods of time. This is helping to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort that many patients suffer from the current state-of-the-art medical equipment.