Internal medicine is a medical specialty focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and conditions affecting adults. Physicians specialising in internal medicine, known as internists or internal medicine specialists, are trained to provide comprehensive care for a wide range of medical issues, from common illnesses to complex chronic diseases.
Internal medicine encompasses various subspecialties, such as:
The primary distinction between internal medicine and general medicine lies in their patient focus. Internal medicine specialists, or internists, typically focus solely on adult care, while general practitioners are adept at providing healthcare across all age groups.
To better grasp when to seek care from an internist or a general practitioner, here’s a further breakdown of their distinctions:
Internal medicine focuses specifically on the care of adults, while general medicine encompasses patients of all ages, from infants to elderly adults.
Internists often specialise in specific areas within internal medicine, such as cardiology, gastroenterology, or nephrology, whereas general practitioners typically provide more generalised care without specialised training in a particular area.
Internists may manage more complex and chronic diseases commonly seen in adults, such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, while general practitioners may focus on a broader range of health issues across different age groups.
Internal medicine specialists undergo residency training specifically focused on adult medicine, while general practitioners may complete residencies that include rotations in various medical specialties, including paediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, and surgery.
Internists are skilled in managing the overall health of adult patients, including preventive care, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses. They are trained to address a broad spectrum of medical conditions, including:
Patients afflicted with conditions like heart disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease frequently turn to internists for specialised medical care. In these instances, internists play a pivotal role in coordinating care with healthcare providers across different specialties to deliver holistic treatment to their patients.
Specialised Expertise for Complex Conditions
From routine health screenings to specialised diagnostic tests, our internists are adept at identifying potential health risks and intervening promptly. At Dr. Helena Taylor’s clinic, we offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to address diverse healthcare needs, including:
Heart health refers to the overall health and function of the heart, which is a vital organ responsible for pumping blood and delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Ultrasound screening in pregnancy involves using high-frequency sound waves to create images of the fetus, uterus, placenta, and surrounding structures in the mother’s abdomen and pelvis.
Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.
Lifestyle medicine focuses on helping patients to eat more healthily, stay active, sleep better, improve social connections and mental health, and reduce harmful substance use.
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