What is Internal Medicine? Which Diseases Does It Cover?

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases affecting adults and applies preventive principles to maintain health and well-being. Internal medicine physicians specialize in preventing, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of conditions that affect adults. They specialize in promoting wellness, disease prevention, and care for acute and chronic problems.

What is Internal Medicine?

Internal medicine, in the medical worldInternal medicineIt is a comprehensive branch that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of adult patients. This branch is a field of expertise that examines and treats the internal organs of the human body and diseases related to these organs. It is considered one of the cornerstones of general medical practice. It also has various sub-branches such as cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, hematology, oncology, rheumatology and infectious diseases. Internal medicine specialists can diagnose a wide range of diseases.

The main purpose of internal medicine is to comprehensively address the health problems of adult patients, identify the causes of these problems and improve the quality of life of patients by creating treatment plans. Specialists evaluate the general health status of patients. Makes referrals to other medical specialties when necessary. Thus, it plays an important role in the long-term health management of patients.

Internal medicine requires a wide range of knowledge and expertise as it covers diseases related to many different systems of the body. For example, common health problems such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, digestive system disorders, kidney diseases, infections and immune system diseases are conditions that internists frequently encounter. Sub-branches of internal medicine that examine different systems of the body and specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of related diseases can be listed as follows:

• Cardiology: It deals with the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
• Endocrinology: It examines the hormone system and diseases related to this system, focusing on diseases such as diabetes and thyroid disorders.
• Gastroenterology: It deals with diseases of the digestive system organs such as stomach, intestines, liver and pancreas.
• Nephrology: It focuses on kidney diseases and their treatment.
• Hematology: It deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as blood diseases, anemia and leukemia.
• Oncological: It is a field of expertise that provides diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cancer diseases.
• Rheumatology: Examines the musculoskeletal system, especially joint diseases.
• Infectious Diseases: It deals with the treatment of diseases caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

While evaluating the general health status of the patients, the internal medicine doctor performs a physical examination after taking a comprehensive anamnesis. Uses laboratory tests and imaging methods when deemed necessary. It also creates long-term treatment plans to manage chronic diseases and improve patients’ quality of life.

What Diseases Does Internal Medicine (Department of Internal Medicine) Treat?

Internal medicine, which diagnoses, treats and monitors diseases related to various internal organ systems of adult patients, deals with various diseases. It also evaluates the general health status of patients. Below “What diseases does internal medicine treat?You can find the answers to the question:

Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most common health problems worldwide. This group of diseases includes a variety of conditions that affect the cardiovascular system. Internal medicine specialists play a role in the diagnosis, treatment and management of such diseases. Referring patients to work with a cardiologist when necessary:

• Hypertension: This disease, known as high blood pressure, can pose serious risks to cardiovascular health. Internal medicine specialists play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.
• Coronary Artery Disease: The disease, which occurs as a result of narrowing or blockage of the vessels feeding the heart, can lead to serious conditions such as heart attack.
• Heart failure: It appears when the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body.

Endocrine System Diseases

It covers disorders that occur as a result of dysfunctions of the glands that regulate the body’s hormone production and release. This system controls many vital functions, from metabolism to growth, from reproductive health to stress responses. Any imbalance in the endocrine system can negatively affect the overall functioning of the body. Internal medicine specialists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of such hormonal imbalances and create personalized treatment plans to improve patients’ quality of life. Some of the endocrine system diseases are:

• Diabetes (Diabetes): This disease, which causes blood sugar to rise uncontrollably, is a condition that the internal medicine department frequently encounters and manages.
• Thyroid Diseases: These are thyroid-related disorders such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland).
• Metabolic Syndrome: This syndrome, which includes conditions such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance, obesity and high cholesterol, is in the field of internal medicine.

Digestive System Diseases

Digestive system diseases are disorders that affect different organs of the digestive system and can often be chronic. This system starts from the mouth and extends to the anus; It has a complex structure that includes the processes of digesting and absorbing nutrients and removing waste from the body. Digestive system diseases can seriously affect quality of life. Internal medicine specialists involved in the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases apply various treatment methods to relieve patients’ symptoms and prevent the progression of the disease. When necessary, he refers patients to a gastroenterologist for further examination and treatment. Common digestive system diseases can be listed as follows:

• Gastritis and Ulcer: Inflammation of the stomach lining or sores in the stomach and duodenum are common diseases treated by internal medicine specialists.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This condition, characterized by abdominal pain, bloating and changes in bowel movements, is a disease frequently encountered by the internal medicine department.
• Liver Diseases: Diseases such as hepatitis, fatty liver and liver cirrhosis.

The department of internal medicine is a branch of medicine that works with the aim of protecting the general health of patients and improving their quality of life in the diagnosis and treatment of this wide range of diseases. Therefore, it provides primary healthcare services for adults. When necessary, he directs patients to relevant specialties. However, the diseases that internal medicine deals with are not limited to these. You can get support from internal medicine doctors in many areas, from the respiratory system to the kidney and urinary system, from blood diseases such as anemia to infectious diseases.

What Tests Are Performed in the Department of Internal Medicine?

It uses various tests and examinations to diagnose and monitor diseases in many different areas. These tests are performed to evaluate the general health status of patients, determine the cause of signs and symptoms, and plan appropriate treatment methods. “What tests are performed in the internal medicine department?”, some of them can be listed as follows:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): This test is used to detect anemia, infection, or other blood disorders by measuring levels of red and white blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets.
• Blood Sugar (Glucose) Test: Blood sugar levels are measured to diagnose and monitor diabetes. Variants such as fasting blood sugar and oral glucose tolerance test may also be performed.
• Lipid Profiles: It helps assess the risk of cardiovascular disease by measuring cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels.
• Liver Function Tests (LFT): It is used to evaluate the function of the liver and detect diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis by measuring the levels of liver enzymes.
• Kidney Function Tests: Measures urea and creatinine levels. It detects kidney diseases by evaluating the function of the kidneys.
• Thyroid Function Tests: The function of the thyroid gland is evaluated by measuring TSH, T3, T4 hormone levels. Thyroid diseases such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are diagnosed.
• Complete Urinalysis: The presence of protein, glucose, red and white blood cells, ketones and other substances in the urine sample is evaluated. This test is used to diagnose conditions such as kidney diseases, urinary tract infections and diabetes.
• Ultrasonography: It is used to examine the structural features of the abdominal organs, thyroid gland or other body parts. Conditions such as gallbladder stones, fatty liver and kidney stones can be detected with this method.
• X-ray: Chest x-rays are commonly used to detect conditions such as lung infections, heart enlargement, or bone abnormalities.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This test, which shows soft tissue details, is used to detect anomalies in areas such as the brain, spinal cord, joints or abdominal organs.
• Computed Tomography (CT): CT, which provides cross-sectional images of organs, is used to detect tumors, internal bleeding and organ injuries.