What is it?
Internal medicine is a medical specialty that specializes in treatment, prevention and diagnosis of internal diseases. The doctors who treat internal diseases are called internists or physicians. The doctors in internal medicine are trained to provide treatment for a wide range of diseases. They treat conditions that affect any body system. They provide general guidance, counseling and preventive interventions to improve health. Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, disease of lung and heart disease are treated by doctors specializing in internal medicine.
Obstetrics and Gynecology are usually combined and studied by doctors who take up this branch of science. OB-GYN is the commonly used abbreviation for obstetrics and gynecology.
Internal ailments
Some of the diseases that are treated by a specialist in internal medicine are as follows:
- Hypothyroidism: In hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is underactive. It arises when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough of T3 and T4 hormone. Its symptoms are weight gain, forgetfulness, dry skin, dry hair, and inability to stay warm.
It is treated by consumption of synthetic thyroid hormones. Along with that, self-care involving regular visits to the doctor, quitting alcohol and smoking and taking medications as prescribed are recommended. Nutrition plays an important part in treatment of hypothyroidism. Foods that are rich in antioxidants, foods that contain selenium and tyrosine are recommended to eat. Some foods are recommended to be avoided such as caffeine, soy, iodine-rich food and cruciferous vegetables.
- Influenza: It is caused by a virus and is contagious. Its symptoms include headache, tiredness, sore throat, fever, pain in muscles, running and stuffed nose, dry cough and problems in stomach.
Influenza is treated by prescribing antivirals to relieve the patient of viral infection. Cough suppressants and antihistamines for symptoms such as sneezing and discharge from nose are also prescribed.
- Fatigue: Lack of energy can be caused due to conditions such as depression, hypothyroidism, anemia and sleep disorders. To find out the cause of persistent fatigue, blood test, medical history, and physical examination may be done.
- Pneumonia: It is inflammation of the lungs caused by an infection of virus, bacteria or other organisms. It occurs when a person’s immune system is weakened due to an infection of upper respiratory tract. Its symptoms are cough, chills, short breath, fever and shallow breathing.
Antibiotics may be prescribed to treat bacterial infection. Analgesics for pain and cough suppressants for cough may be given. If the infection is caused by fungi, antifungal medicine may be given.
- Migraine: It is a severe headache that is disabling at times. It has no cure but its severity and frequency can be reduced with medication.
Analgesics are given for mild migraines. In cases where the pain lasts for more than 48 hours, ergots are given soon after the symptoms appear. Triptans are prescribed for blocking the pain pathways in the brain. Apart from these, beta blockers for decreasing the intensity and frequency, and glucocorticoids for relieving the pain may also be prescribed as per the need. When nausea restricts drug that treats migraine, antinausea drugs are given.
- Menopause
- Reproductive tract disorders
Why Amrit hospital?
The department of internal medicine provides excellent treatment for diseases related to internal organs. The services include diagnosis, prevention and treatment of these conditions and their management. We use the best treatment methods to treat and care for the patient.