Definition of Internal Medicine

The Internal Medicine is a medical specialty that is dedicated to the study, diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases.

Internal Medicine covers the so-called internal diseases that do not warrant treatment with surgery, the doctor who practices this specialty is known as Internist who once graduated from a school As a general practitioner, you must complete postgraduate studies in internal medicine for a duration of three years to be considered a specialist in this area.

Once the studies in internal medicine have been completed, the doctor can practice as an internist or choose to study in subspecialties of internal medicine such as cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, dermatology, rheumatology, infectology, immunology, allergology, pulmonology, hematology, oncology, nephrology, endocrinology and geriatrics.

Internal medicine offers a broad vision of the sick patient as a whole, since it integrates the different subspecialties, the specialist in this area is the family doctor who can accompany the patient throughout his life, from adolescence to old age, preparing him when he requires treatment surgery, both on an outpatient basis for health disorders that do not compromise life and during hospitalization when the patient requires care specials. Many times the internist is the doctor of the entire family group.

In some cases internal medicine should request the evaluation of the patient by a subspecialty to support the procedures of diagnosis and treatment of some specific conditions, in these cases the specialist may indicate a treatment that will later be monitored by the treating internist.

The doctor specializing in internal medicine is able to diagnose and treat infectious diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, metabolic problems, disorders of the lipids in blood, respiratory diseases and digestive disorders, among others. Likewise, this specialist is the most indicated in the management of patients who receive treatment with several medications simultaneously, in which in addition to controlling underlying diseases, it is necessary to monitor the appearance of possible adverse or secondary effects of medications or problems derived from interactions between they.

Another important function of Internal Medicine is to implement preventive and screening programs that allow early diagnosis of diseases, even if they are asymptomatic. For this reason, it is recommended that every adult visit their internist doctor at least once a year for an comprehensive evaluation in which the physical examination is complemented by laboratory studies and basic images according to with factors such as the type of work performed by the patient, his family and personal history as well as his habits.