A doctor of internal medicine is your first step to a healthy life. They are physicians who specifically look after your health and offer extensive treatment strategies. They belong to internal medicine, a field that holistically deals with adult health and is discussed here.
What is Internal Medicine?
Internal medicine is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases in patients 18 years or above. Physicians who practice internal medicine are known as internists. Internists utilize their scientific learning and clinical expertise to care for a wide variety of diseases. These medical conditions vary over a spectrum of complexity and can be as common as cold to as severe as heart disease.
On the whole, internal medicine offers a comprehensive approach to primary healthcare. It intends to promote good health and wellbeing and focuses greatly on prevention. The latter is more important for hereditary and acquired diseases. Since humans are at significant risk to develop any of them internal medicine keeps an eye on the rising symptoms and prevents their onset.
The Scope of Internal Medicine:
Internal medicine aims to treat both chronically sick patients to those who require short-term care. While the patient demographics are not limited to gender or an organ system, some internists who take fellowship training in sub-specialties are more versed to treat targeted diseases. For instance, internists who additionally training in endocrinology are known as an endocrinologist and can better manage diabetes, thyroid issues, and PCOS.
Through an internist, internal medicine serves as a bridge between the patient and a specialist. While they offer holistic treatment when needed, internists may refer to a specialist if the prognosis worsens. Internists offer both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical treatments to achieve both short-term and long-term benefits. They prescribe OTC and prescription drugs while simultaneously managing their lifestyle as well.
What Makes an Internist?
After completing their medical school, physicians choose internal medicine as their specialty. Internists are supposed to take a three-year residency program before their practice. Moreover, some internists join fellowship training in sub-specialties that target one organ system. They can choose to train in neurology, pulmonology, cardiology, oncology, endocrinology, or others. The additional training gives them an upper hand in treating diseases related to specific organ systems and expands their scope of expertise.
Internal medicine physicians practice in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including critically hospitalized patients. Their exposure to such patients adds to their resilience and decision-making skills and capability to treat critical conditions. Through their training and experience, internists are more capable of treating a vast variety of adult-related diseases, regardless of their stage.
How Do Internists Different from Other Primary Care Providers?
As discussed earlier, internists are a type of primary care provider, but the question is, who are these physicians? Primary care physicians are the first medical professional you’d see in case of a disease. They practice general medicine and provide holistic care. Their goal is to offer preventive care to those at risk either by their family history or because of their lifestyle. Internists also aim to offer treatment for minor ailments such as cold, cough, and flu. Their service also includes timely diagnosis, chronic care management, and referrals.
There’re five distinct types of primary care providers, each different in its patient demographics and treatment approach.
1. Internist:
An internist is an internal medicine physician who deals with patients over 18 years of age. They specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of chronic conditions. Internists work in various care settings including private clinics, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers.
2. Pediatrician:
Pediatricians look after children up to the age of 18 years of age. They may practice in both outpatient and in-patient settings. Moreover, there are some internists who care for both children and adults in both types of settings. The hybrid specialty is known as internal medicine-pediatricians while the physicians are called med-peds.
3. Family Physician:
Family medicine is the healthcare facility that has been developed to offer primary care to the entire family unit. A family practitioner offers care to patients regardless of their age group. Family physicians are majorly found in out-patient settings where they care for both acute and chronic illnesses.
4. Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB-GYN):
OB-GYNs are primary care providers that specialize in women’s health. obstetrician cares for women throughout their pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum. On the other hand, a gynecologist deals with issues regarding birth control, childbirth, menopause, and menstruation.
5. Geriatricians:
Geriatricians are physicians that are trained to diagnose, manage, treat, and prevent diseases in the elderly. They have a better understanding of the body’s metabolic function at such an age and can modify treatments accordingly.
What Do Internal Medicine Practitioners Treat?
As discussed earlier, internal medicine care for a broad range of diseases. These diseases affect various organs and organ systems and require distinct treatment strategies.
Allergy Treatments:
The most commonly presented medical conditions that internists treat include allergy. They may be triggered by different airborne allergens, foods, insects, and even medications. An internist is responsible for diagnosing the trigger and prescribing OTC anti-allergy drugs accordingly.
Health Treatments:
Internists also treat some serious health conditions such as those related to the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Through their vast clinical experience, they are proficient in managing conditions like angina, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest. Internists may run diagnostic procedures to evaluate the potential onset of atherosclerosis. They may refer to or work together with a specialist cardiologist for better management of the patient’s cardiac health.
Lifestyle Treatment:
Our pollutant environment and lifestyle have rendered a considerable population at risk for pulmonary conditions such as asthma, COPD, and bronchitis. Respiratory conditions damage the lungs, airways, thoracic activity, and chest walls. An internist provides transient treatment as well as a long-term management strategy.
Orthopedic Treatments:
Orthopedic conditions are also well-managed by an internist. They treat common conditions such as osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and fractures.
Numerous Endocrine Treatments:
Internists are also treating numerous endocrine-related diseases. The rising number of patients with diabetes, hypo/hyperthyroidism, and PCOS has also alarmed physicians. As a result, they’re concentrating more on the preventive approach for those who are at its risk. They prescribe antihyperglycemic drugs to reduce blood glucose levels. Additionally, internists offer to counsel regarding dietary habits and exercise that promote health.
Other diseases that internists treat are those related to the gastrointestinal tract. These include constipation, diarrhea, GERD, and ulcers. Internists also offer critical care medicine in terms of pulmonary and cardiac assistance to patients in the intensive/critical units.
Do Internists Perform Procedures?
Internists can perform procedures for both diagnosis and treatment of different diseases. For diagnostic purposes, they conduct ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and MRI scans. For treatment, they employ thoracentesis to remove fluid from around the lungs or lumbar puncture to remove fluid from the lower back. Other invasive procedures include venipuncture and arterial puncture to draw blood and evaluate blood gases accordingly. They also carry out intubation, IV-line, urinary catheters, and NG tube insertion.
Do Not Delay On Your Health..
You never know when you might need to rush to a hospital. Do not wait till the last minute, book an appointment with an internist, and pledge to see them regularly. You can find one at a top-rated Lung and sleep disorder center in Michigan for all your pulmonary and sleep issues.
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