Specialist – Internal medicine
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Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine
Internal medicine is a branch of medical science that deals with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of various conditions affecting the internal organs of adults like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, lung disease etc. Internal medicine specialists often look after people presenting with complex, chronic, and multiple system abnormalities.
Based on their subspecialties, internists may work in collaboration with doctors in other medical specialities or consult on patients referred by another specialist. Physicians who specialize in the internal medicine discipline are called internists or general internists. In other words, internists are doctors for adults, although they also work closely with the elderly and adolescents. Their scope is extremely comprehensive.
They carry out the assessment of the patient, diagnosis and treatment of internal diseases. The treatment may be short term or long-term depending on the condition present. Apart from that, they are also expected to recommend certain preventive measures to upgrade the quality of life and promote a positive approach and well-being among patients. Their vast knowledge in a wide variety of diseases also makes them ideal consultants to general doctors or family physicians. They can also specialize in mental health.
There are multiple areas of expertise for internal medicine specialists, which comprises of:
- Adolescent medicine involving both psychological and sexual development
- Sports medicine
- Immunology deals with any condition affecting the immune system, like allergies
- Cardiology
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology comprising of diseases and conditions that are related to metabolism and hormones
- Geriatrics
- Infectious diseases
- Gastroenterology
- Rheumatology
- Pulmonology
Patients often consider referring an Internist during the following cases:
- To improve overall health conditions
- For long-lasting comprehensive care
- For multiple symptoms making it difficult to diagnose
- In case of conditions affecting various body systems
Hypertension
Blood pressure can be described as the measurement of the amount of pressure of blood being pushed against the walls of blood vessels. During hypertension, the pressure against the blood vessel walls keeps on increasing till it becomes enormously high. It is often entitled as the "silent killer" because externally, the patient may not feel any issue, but the damage keeps occurring within the body of the patient.
The blood pressure reading has two numbers or variables. The number present on the top is called systolic blood pressure, which measures the amount of force on the thin blood vessel walls when the heart relaxes or contracts. The number on the bottom is called diastolic blood pressure, which measures the amount of pressure on the blood vessels between beats when your heart is relaxing.
Types
- Primary high blood pressure. Causes of this include ageing and unhealthy and lazy habits like not doing enough physical exercise.
- Secondary high blood pressure. Causes of this blood pressure include different medical problems (for example, kidney or hormonal problems) or sometimes a medication you're taking.
Symptoms include sleeping problems, sweating, anxiety, blood spots in the eyes and dizziness.
Medications for hypertension include:
- Diuretucs including thiazides, chlorthalidone, and indapamide
- Beta-blockers and Alpha-blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Central agonists
- Peripheral adrenergic inhibitor
- Vasodilators
- ACE inhibitors
- Angiotensin receptor blockers
Intake of a heart-healthy diet and reduced salt intake can help in the prevention of Hypertension.
Risk factors include family history, people above 55 years of age, obese people, people who don't exercise and people who have a history of smoking and drinking.
Chronic Lung Disease
Asthma
Asthma is a condition in which a person's airways become inflamed, narrow, and produce extra mucus, which makes it difficult to breathe. It is among the most common types of chronic lung disease. When it gets triggered, lungs become swollen and narrow, making it harder to breathe.
Symptoms include:
- Wheezing
- Being unable to take in enough air
- Coughing
- Feeling tightness in your chest
Trigger factors generally include allergens like chemicals, dust or dirt, pollution, mental stress and excessive exercise.
Asthma usually starts in childhood, although it can develop at a later stage. It can't be cured; however, medications can help control symptoms.
Most people with asthma can cope with it very well and enjoy healthy and hearty lives. Without treatment, the disease can be deadly
Risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Allergies
- Being exposed frequently to pollutants
- Exposure to occupational triggers like chemicals
Medications:
Long term asthma control medications. These include:
- Inhaled corticosteroids like budesonide
- Leukotriene modifiers
- Combination inhalers
- Theophylline
Quick-relief medications. These include:
- Short-acting beta-agonist bronchodilators
- Anticholinergic agents
- Oral and intravenous corticosteroids
Other options include immunotherapy and bronchial thermoplasty
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
It is a chronic, persistent lung disease in which the lungs become inflamed, thereby making breathing even more strenuous. The inflammation in the area of the lungs leads to the development of overproduction of mucus and a thickening of the lining of the lungs. The air sacs or alveoli become less effective at carrying oxygen in and moving carbon dioxide out of the lungs.
People with COPD typically have either one or both of the below-mentioned conditions:
Emphysema: This condition is responsible for the damage in the air sacs in the lungs. Air sacs are otherwise healthy and strong, but emphysema weakens them and causes some of them to puncture.
Chronic bronchitis: It is defined as the inflammation and irritation of bronchial tubes resulting in increased mucus production. . Chronic bronchitis is more complicated, as it never goes away.
Symptoms of emphysema are:
- Dyspnea
- Wheezing
- Breathlessness
Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:
- Frequent coughing
- Coughing up mucus
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
Risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Pollution
- Exposure to occupational triggers
Treatment includes:
- Bronchodilators.
- Corticosteroids. These drugs reduce airway inflammation.
- Combination inhalers. These inhalers pair steroids with a bronchodilator.
- Antibiotics.
- Roflumilast
- Flu or pneumonia vaccines.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation.
- Oxygen therapy
Chronic Pneumonia
This is an infection of the lungs due to bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Microorganisms grow and flourish in the area of the lungs, thereby creating varied symptoms. The air sacs get inflamed and fill up with fluid, which disrupts the flow of oxygen. Most of the time, people recover within a few weeks. Sometimes, though, the disease hangs on and may even become life-threatening.
Pneumonia can attack anyone, but it’s most likely to develop in people whose lungs are already vulnerable because of:
- Smoking
- Weakened immune system
- Another illness
- Surgery
Symptoms include:
- Coughing up blood
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Chills
- Lasting fever
Medications include:
Oral antibiotics can help in the treatment of most cases of bacterial pneumonia. It is advisable to take an advised course of antibiotics, even if patients start feeling better. If the patient doesn't do the entire course of antibiotics, it can help the infection to prevail, and it gets harder to treat in the future.
Antifungal medications are used in the treatment of fungal pneumonia. Medication is advised for several weeks to clear the infection.
Hospitalization
If the symptoms are very severe or patients are having multiple health problems, then hospitalization needs to be done. At the hospital, doctors can monitor vital parameters like heart rate, temperature, and breathing.
Treatment at the hospital includes:
Antibiotics are given through IV
Respiratory therapy aims at delivering specific medications directly into the lungs.
Oxygen therapy to sustain oxygen levels in the bloodstream (received through a nasal tube, face mask, or ventilator, depending on severity).
Breathing exercises to improve oxygenation to the lungs.
Services Offered
- Endocrinology and diabetes
- Pulmonology
- Rheumatology
- Infectious diseases and fever
- Screening for preventable conditions including cancer
- Guidance related to lifestyle conditions
- Treatment of acute as well as chronic illnesses
- Management of common ailments like cough and cold
- Preventive healthcare including vaccination
- Management and prevention of life-style diseases
