An internist or internal medicine physician is a specialist with expertise in diagnosing, treating, and providing comprehensive care to adults with issues ranging from general health problems to chronic illnesses. Their primary focus is helping adult patients with their health and well-being. They maintain long-term and lifelong relationships with their patients, which allows them to propose solutions based on each patient’s requirements or circumstances.
Internists see a broad picture when it comes to providing health solutions. Their in-depth understanding of the human anatomy allows them to look at how all body organs work in tandem. They connect the dots by analyzing information from multiple data sets. Based on this information, they identify optimal solutions for each individual’s well-being.
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What Do Internists Do?
Internists are experts in adult medicine. They are specifically trained to resolve diagnostic issues, help patients manage long-term illnesses, and provide optimal solutions to individuals with multiple chronic diseases.
The primary responsibilities of internists include:
- Performing physical exams and prescribing lab tests
- Analyzing a patient’s symptoms, medical history, and results from lab tests to perform an accurate diagnosis
- Formulating treatment plans and guiding their implementation to treat or manage several medical conditions
- Prescribing appropriate medications and analyzing the patient’s response to those medications
- Helping patients understand their medical condition and providing tips for effective management
- Coordinating with other specialists to ensure holistic care for their patients
- Helping patients with preventive care by performing regular screenings
- Remaining up-to-date with the latest developments in the medical industry
Internal medicine physicians treat or manage a wide range of medical conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disorders
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Infectious diseases
- Neurological disorders
- Cancers
Internists are also trained to handle complex medical conditions resulting from problems with multiple body organs.
Services Offered By Internists
Internists offer a wide range of services to help adult patients with their health and overall well-being. Some of those services are as under.
General Health Checkup
Internists perform general health checkups to ensure you are in good health. These checkups are usually performed once every year. However, the frequency of checkups can vary depending on the state of your overall health, predisposition to certain illnesses, age, and other factors.
A general health checkup may include the following tests:
- Height and weight
- Lab tests (e.g., blood and urine tests)
- Cholesterol
- Blood pressure
- Testicular examination of men
- Breast checkups for women
Diagnosing and Treating Chronic Illnesses
Internists are medical professionals who specialize in using various methods to diagnose and treat chronic illnesses in adults. As a rule of thumb, they initiate diagnosis by checking medical history and performing a thorough medical exam. They also ask patients about their symptoms and current medications.
Based on this initial check, they proceed to other diagnostic procedures, such as:
- Blood tests
- Urine tests
- MRI and other imaging tests
- Cardiac tests to examine heart function
- Biopsies to get tissue samples for lab examination
- Lung function examination
Once the diagnosis is complete, they proceed to the treatment phase. Internists generally prescribe medications and lifestyle changes to their patients to prevent and treat problems. Medication aims at controlling symptoms and slowing the disease’s progression, whereas lifestyle changes include exercise and diet to keep the condition under control.
Management of Multiple Medical Conditions
Internists perform careful testing to diagnose problems experienced by a patient with multiple health conditions. This involves a thorough physical examination and various laboratory and imaging tests. They also check the patient’s medical history to have a more detailed insight into their state of health.
In some cases, internists may also coordinate with other healthcare providers treating their patients. This helps them prepare a comprehensive treatment plan that wouldn’t counteract the patient’s current medication or treatment.
Preventive Medicine
Preventive medicine is a proactive approach during which medical practices are deployed to avoid illnesses and health problems. Internists use this approach to identify and treat medical conditions at their early stages and ensure that patient gets quicker and smoother recovery to optimal health. This approach involves regular screening to identify illnesses before their symptoms become bothersome.
What is the difference between a medical doctor and an internist?
Internists or internal medicine doctors offer comprehensive care to adults with chronic illnesses and other health conditions. They have a broad knowledge of different diseases and are experts in diagnosis. Medical doctors or general practitioners have licensed health professionals offering primary care to patients of all ages.
Book a Consultation
Want to meet the top internal medicine physicians to discuss and address your health concerns? EuroMed Clinic Dubai is here with its top-rated healthcare providers and experts in internal medicine. For more information, call us at +971 4 394 5422. You can also book a consultation online by filling out the form below.
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