Internists are experts in the diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention of diseases that affect adults as Dr. Anosh Ahmed explained
An internist specializes in providing adults with comprehensive services for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of illnesses and conditions, including infections, minor injuries, and acute and chronic illnesses. Internists are highly trained diagnosticians. As per Dr. Anosh Ahmed, they also provide adults with regular and routine primary health care services.
An internist :
- Evaluates a patient’s medical history and teaches them about wellness and disease prevention.
- diagnoses and treats acute illnesses and conditions, including infections, injuries, and gastrointestinal disorders
- Detects, treats and monitors a range of chronic physical conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid disease, heart disease and depression.
- Order and interpret laboratory and imaging tests and prescribe medications.
- Consult with other members of a patient’s medical and surgical team.
- Perform cancer screenings, such as skin and thyroid checks and breast exams.
- Performs reproductive health screenings including pelvic exams, pap smears and sexually transmitted disease (STD) screenings.
- provide advice on family planning and contraception.
Internists may also be known by the following names: internal medicine doctor , general internist, primary care doctor, internal medicine doctor, internal medicine doctor, general practitioner, and adult doctor.
When should you see an internist?
Dr. Anosh Ahmed suggested that you should see an internist once a year for a general health exam to monitor health characteristics such as your weight, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and lifestyle habits, including smoking and exercise. An internist can help you with symptoms or conditions such as:
- Abnormal weight gain or weight loss
- Chronic pain or acute pain
- Digestive problems, such as blood in the stool, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation that lasts more than a few days.
- Engagement in risky behaviors, such as excessive consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs, and risky sexual behaviors, such as multiple sexual partners and non-use of condoms.
- Frequent headaches are accompanied by other symptoms, such as fever and cough.
- High fever (over 103 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Mild wheezing or shortness of breath (you should seek emergency care immediately for moderate to severe shortness of breath, or call 911)
- Minor injuries that you cannot treat at home with bandages and antiseptic cream.
- Persistent pain, fatigue or weakness that you cannot attribute to an illness such as the flu.
- anxiety, stress, sadness or other unusual emotional difficulties.
- If you are an adult who needs primary preventative care or disease diagnosis and treatment, check out an experienced internist site near you and book an appointment.
What tests are performed by an infectious disease doctor?
A physician specializing in infectious diseases prescribes or performs the following diagnostic and screening tests:
- Culture and sensitivities, including microbiological cultures of wounds, abscesses, stools, tissue specimens, nasal and throat swabs, and bodily fluids (blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, joint fluid, phlegm, and others), as well as tests to determine the sensitivity of a microorganism to drugs.
- General health procedures include physical examination, blood oxygen levels (pulse oximetry), blood pressure, weight and height.
- Imaging studies, including x-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI ).
- Laboratory studies, including blood count (CBC), urinalysis, antibody tests, and C-reactive protein (measurement of inflammation).
- Tissue tests, including biopsies and skin tests.
Internist training and certification with Dr. Anosh Ahmed
To find a physician with the required qualifications and training, look for a physician certified in internal medicine. Physicians can practice adult medicine without being certified in internal medicine, but certification validates the physician’s medical training and expertise. A board-certified internist is a physician or doctor of osteopathic medicine. After medical school, he completes a residency in internal medicine — several years of hands-on clinical training in adult physical, emotional, and mental health — then takes and passes a certification exam. According to Dr. Anosh Ahmed, to maintain certification in internal medicine, physicians must participate in a continuing certification program.
Physicians who obtain board certification in internal medicine may pursue certification in a subspecialty. Board certification requires additional training (fellowship) beyond the residency program, as well as passing an exam.
