While a primary care doctor is often the first resort for many patients whenever they want to seek care, there are some cases where an internal medicine doctor is your best option. Simply put, internal medicine is the study and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing adult diseases. This field of medicine is broad and encompasses other sub-specialties like cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology. Understanding when to arrange an appointment with your internal medicine practitioner is great, as it allows you to make a well-informed decision regarding your medical treatment. Here are the key signs nneka edokpayi md highlights that patients should consider for an internal medicine visit.
- Chronic Disease
Among the major roles of an internist is treating patients with chronic diseases. If left unaddressed, a chronic disease is likely to worsen. Therefore, immediate and efficient medical intervention could help address the symptoms, as well as the inherent cause, enhancing the seriousness of the issue altogether.
As internal medicine breaks down into different specialties, it can address just about any disease the patient may have. Internal medicine practitioners also employ a multidisciplinary approach, where they work with other practitioners to treat patients with various chronic diseases as efficiently as possible.
- Serious Fatigue
Patients with chronic diseases have probably already been diagnosed with the issue. However, there are instances when the warning signs of chronic disease are less apparent, which is the case with patients whose primary symptom is weariness.
Serious fatigue is a warning sign of several chronic health conditions. It might gradually become a problem that poses a chronic threat to the patient’s general well-being. Nevertheless, it is advisable for anybody with serious fatigue to seek an internal medicine physician’s appointment to discover the root cause of their fatigue.
- Chronic Pain
Pain is one of the body’s ways of signaling that there is something wrong. For this reason, you should not dismiss pain, particularly if the issue becomes chronic or develops suddenly to a nearly intolerable level. Irrespective of the precise location of your pain, any discomfort that does not stem from injury and lasts for weeks or months warrants a trip to the internal medicine practitioner. During your initial consultation, your doctor can evaluate your pain and begin the diagnostic procedures to identify the inherent cause.
- A High-Risk of Illness
Practically anybody in heightened danger of illness must consider seeing an internal medicine physician. Internal medicine entails more than simply treating already existent issues. Seeing a doctor is likewise a great way to avoid adult illnesses from arising in the first place. One might be more susceptible to a disease because of various factors, including lifestyle and hereditary concerns.
Internal medicine doctors offer primary healthcare to adult patients throughout their life. These practitioners are the doctors most people turn to once they outgrow pediatricians. With their generalized and thorough medical training, an internist can diagnose and treat you for virtually any type of illness or disease. If required, your internist can write prescriptions and refer you to another specialist if you exhibit unusual symptoms that might need specialized therapy. You can also see your internist for updates on your immunizations and any preventative care suggestions.
