Family practice is the branch of medicine concerning the total health care of the person and the family. A family practice physician can have a varied and extensive medical background, including internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and geriatrics. A family physician has the skills and knowledge to provide care and health maintenance education for all ages. This physician is trained to diagnose and treat each member of the family, no matter what the problem.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Emphysema, Broncho-Esophagology, Pneumonia, Osteoarthritis , Bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, Asthma, pectus excavatum, osteoporosis, infection, Diabetes, cancer, Acne, Alzheimer's disease, Hypertension, Autism, Yeast infection, Strep throat, Anemia, and Aneurysm.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including wart removal and mole removal.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including Bone density test, FAA-Flight Physicial, physicial / check up, physicial, biopsy, Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), ultrasound, x-ray, Blood Test, Upper GI (Barium Swallow), stool test, Lower GI (Barium Enema), electrolyte test, microbiological culture, and pH probe test.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. North Carolina has 3,547 practicing family doctors. Broken out by city, family practice doctor density in Aberdeen is 3, in Albemarle is 16, in Apex is 14, in Asheboro is 29, in Asheville is 147, in Ayden is 4, in Bakersville is 5, in Bolivia is 6, in Boone is 25, in Bunn is 1, in Burgaw is 5, in Burlington is 49, in Canton is 11, in Carrboro is 14, in Cary is 58, in Chapel Hill is 143, in Charlotte is 373, in Cherryville is 6, in China Grove is 10, in Clayton is 13, in Cleveland is 2, in Clinton is 23, in Coats is 1, in Concord is 68, in Cornelius is 42, in Davidson is 10, in Denton is 5, in Dunn is 17, in Durham is 145, in Edenton is 7, in Fayetteville is 120, in Fletcher is 15, in Franklin is 16, in Garner is 25, in Gaston is 1, in Gastonia is 52, in Goldsboro is 32, in Greensboro is 153, in Greenville is 69, in Havelock is 2, in Henderson is 32, in Hendersonville is 58, in Hertford is 2, in Hickory is 51, in High Point is 41, in Highlands is 2, in Hildebran is 5, in Hillsborough is 40, in Hope Mills is 9, in Huntersville is 49, in Jacksonville is 32, in Jonesville is 4, in Kannapolis is 35, in Kernersville is 27, in Kinston is 18, in La Grange is 4, in Laurinburg is 14, in Lexington is 22, in Liberty is 4, in Lincolnton is 21, in Lumberton is 24, in Matthews is 40, in Mocksville is 17, in Monroe is 49, in Mooresville is 49, in Mount Pleasant is 19, in New Bern is 22, in Newport is 2, in North Wilkesboro is 16, in Norwood is 1, in Oxford is 10, in Pembroke is 15, in Pittsboro is 22, in Princeton is 7, in Raleigh is 145, in Richfield is 3, in Roanoke Rapids is 10, in Robbinsville is 4, in Rocky Mount is 28, in Salisbury is 42, in Sanford is 35, in Shallotte is 9, in Shelby is 26, in Southern Pines is 3, in Sparta is 6, in Spencer is 2, in Spruce Pine is 12, in Statesville is 16, in Thomasville is 19, in Troutman is 6, in Wadesboro is 11, in Wagram is 5, in Wake Forest is 29, in Washington is 11, in Waynesville is 17, in Weddington is 5, in West Jefferson is 1, in Whiteville is 17, in Wilmington is 105, and in Wilson is 16.

North Carolina was one of the thirteen original colonies, and achieved statehood in 1789. The population of North Carolina is 8,683,242, and the capital city is Raleigh, named after Sir Walter Raleigh, who established the first English colony in the New World. The Appalachian Mountain range covers the western part of the state, and the mountains receive significant snowfall in winter. Visitors can tour a plantation near Wilmington, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, one of the museums or historic sites in Raleigh or Charlotte, or the aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores on the Atlantic Coast.

According to 2005 Census estimates, North Carolina has a population of 8,683,242. Of this population, 2,098,194 are under the age of 18 and 1,049,995 are at or above the age of 65.