Why Visit Internal Medicine Physician

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions affecting people's internal organs, such as the heart, liver, lungs, stomach, and intestines. As one of the essential areas in medicine today, it may be surprising to know that this field has been around for more than two centuries. This blog post will discuss some interesting facts about how internal medicine in Rockville, MD, can help diagnose and treat patients with chronic health problems like asthma or diabetes.

What is Internal Medicine?

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on preventing, diagnosing, and treating adult diseases. The field includes general medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, and geriatrics. Internal Medicine physicians are skilled in diagnosing common chronic conditions found in adults. They also provide care for patients with acute illnesses such as pneumonia or a broken bone.  Internal Medicine physicians work closely with their patients to monitor their health to prevent future problems related to these chronic conditions. For instance, if you have diabetes, you may need to maintain your blood sugar by checking your level at home or getting insulin shots from time to time.

When Should You See an Internist?

If you have a chronic health problem that affects your daily life or suffer from new symptoms that seem unusual for you, see an internist. Internal medicine physicians will carefully investigate what is causing the discomfort and pain to alleviate these issues appropriately. For example, if you have high blood pressure and it does not seem to be responding to treatment, your primary care doctor may refer you to an internist for further testing.

What Does an Internal Medicine Physician Treat?

Most internal medicine physicians will diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions that affect the body's systems. The following are some of the treatment areas that internal medicine physicians may treat:

• Cardiology (heart)
• Gastroenterology (digestive system, liver, stomach, pancreas, and intestines)
• Hematology/Oncology (blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma)
• Infectious diseases (viral, respiratory, or skin diseases that are difficult to treat)
• Nephrology (kidneys)
• Pulmonology (lungs and breathing problems like asthma, emphysema, and sleep apnea)
• Rheumatology (joint pain caused by arthritis or autoimmune disorders of the joints causing inflammation in the tissues)

Internists are also trained to treat patients who have suffered from trauma and acute injuries through accidents resulting in injury-causing fractures or head traumas. In emergencies, trauma doctors may call upon those who require their expertise to see patients with serious injuries. How Does an Internist Diagnose Disease? Internal medicine physicians will make a diagnosis by taking a thorough medical history and performing a physical exam. During the consultation, they may ask you questions about your symptoms and lifestyle to help them understand what is going on with your health. If there are any areas of concern or if additional testing needs to be done, internal medicine physicians can order specialized blood tests, X-rays, MRI scans, and other imaging procedures to confirm their diagnosis. If your internist does not have expertise in a particular area of medicine, they may refer you to another specialist for the proper testing or treatment required. When this happens, you have to communicate with them so that both doctors can work together on your behalf. In conclusion, if you have any unusual symptoms visit an internal medicine specialist who deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases.