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What is an internist?

Internists or internal medicine physicians focus on the internal organs, like the kidneys, heart, liver, and lungs. They are a combination of primary care physicians and specialists. The term internal medicine first originated in Germany. Innere Medizin, meaning internal medicine, became popular in Germany in the late 19th century and referred to physicians who used laboratory research to care for patients. When doctors brought this concept to the US, they called it "internal medicine." Internists are a combination of caregivers, investigators, researchers, and doctors.

Internal medicine physicians prevent diseases and manage existing issues. They stay updated on the latest treatments and medicines that can benefit their patients. They can consult other specialists and work closely with these experts to help the patient quickly recover if necessary. For example, they may work closely with visiting neurologists, pulmonologists, oncologists, etc. 

Education, training, and careers in internal medicine

Internal medicine aspirants need to complete their graduation in science before joining a medical school where they study internal medicine for four years. After this, they must do a three-year general residency program. Some internists prefer to specialize further. In such a case, they must complete an additional one to two years of residency. During this residency, they can gain certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) to become fully licensed internists. 

Internists may work in an office or outpatient setting and continue working with patients when hospitalized. Some prefer to work only within hospitals and are called hospitalists. Some internists are educators who work in medical schools as teachers, administrators, curriculum developers, or academic advisors. Others are research professionals who research existing diseases, test new medicines, learn about new conditions, or develop vaccines or new treatment procedures.

Internists can also get into leadership roles managing and administering adult healthcare in senior living facilities, Veterans Administration Centers, or for-profit businesses. Those internists who want a more expansive reach may work in public policy, acting as liaisons between government policymakers and public health entities.

What are the subspecialties that internists can take up?

There are 14 officially recognized subspecialties recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Internists, while in training, can opt for additional training in the following subspecialties: 

• Endocrinology (for illnesses affecting the endocrine system, such as hormonal diseases or diabetes)
• Rheumatology (conditions affecting bones, muscles, and joints)
• Cardiovascular care (heart diseases)
• Pulmonary or respiratory medicine (involving the lungs and respiratory system) 
• Critical care (usually for people on life support or in critical condition)
• Geriatric medicine (for older adults)
• Oncology (treatment of tumors)
• Occupational medicine (prevention and treatment for work-related diseases or disabilities)
• Gastroenterology (treatment of the gastrointestinal tract)
• Hematology (study and treatment of blood and blood-forming organs)
• Nephrology (illnesses of the kidney)
• Infectious diseases (caused by viruses and bacteria)
• Allergy and immunology (allergies and immune system issues)

What conditions can internists treat?

Internists possess in-depth knowledge of internal organ function and can help you manage related diseases, especially chronic problems. These chronic issues can affect other organs if not appropriately handled. Internists are good at treating people with multiple disorders or complicated health issues. 

Some common conditions internists treat include: 

• Arthritis- It is a chronic issue that leads to swelling or inflammation of the joints in the body, including the hips, knees, and wrists. Arthritis has many forms, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and gout. Stiffness in the joints, pain, redness, decreased range of motion, and swelling are some signs of arthritis. Your internist will recommend treatment depending on the severity of your condition. 
• Heart disease- It includes a group of conditions that affect heart structure or function. These include congenital heart defects, arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat, coronary artery disease, and heart valve disease. Your risk of cardiovascular disease is more likely to increase if you have a family history or comorbidities such as hypertension or diabetes. An internist can suggest ways to enhance your heart health and avoid a medical emergency. 
• Asthma- It is a lung illness where the airways swell up, narrow down, and produce excess mucus. This leads to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and trouble sleeping. An internal medicine doctor can help diagnose asthma by conducting lung function tests and prescribing long-term or quick-relief medications, depending on the severity of your condition. Further, they can also help you outline an asthma action plan that includes when to take medications and increase or decrease your dosage. 
• Diabetes (Type 2)- It is a chronic metabolic condition. It occurs when the body has excess glucose or blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent form that occurs when the body's cells become resistant to insulin. Internists can treat and manage diabetes. They can make patient-specific diabetic care plans and keep track of diabetes-associated diseases through routine physicals and eye exams. 
• Hypertension- Also called high blood pressure (HBP), it occurs when blood pressure is recorded to be above average. Normal blood pressure is recorded at or below 120/80 mmHg. Heart disease risk can also be increased by high blood pressure. Seeing an internist for a routine health checkup can help in early detection.
• Allergies: Internists specializing in allergy and immunology diagnose and manage various immune system disorders affecting people of all ages and varying severity. They treat conditions like allergic conjunctivitis, respiratory issues like asthma and sinusitis, and immune-related gastrointestinal disorders, including eosinophilic esophagitis. They also address skin conditions like atopic dermatitis.

What is hypertension, and why is it considered a serious condition?

Hypertension manifests when the pressure in the blood vessels exceeds 140/90 mmHg. It is a prevalent condition that can have severe consequences if left untreated.

Individuals with high blood pressure often do not exhibit overt symptoms. This makes regular blood pressure checks essential to reach a diagnosis. Typically, blood pressure has two measures: systolic pressure, or the force when the heart contracts, and diastolic pressure, reflecting the heart's resting period between beats.

A diagnosis of hypertension is when, on two separate occasions, the systolic blood pressure equals or exceeds 140 mmHg, and the diastolic pressure is similar to or surpasses 90 mmHg. Regular monitoring and appropriate management are crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health.

High blood pressure can be a result of a plethora of conditions or reasons. These include advancing age, genetic predisposition, obesity, lack of physical activity, a high-salt diet, and excessive alcohol consumption.

Lifestyle changes like quitting tobacco, eating a balanced diet, and routine exercise can help reduce blood pressure issues. However, some individuals may still require medication.

How often should you visit an internal medicine doctor for hypertension?

Regular blood pressure screenings by an internist near you can be vital to maintaining overall health. The frequency of these screenings depends on your age and general well-being. It is advisable to request a blood pressure reading from your internist at least once every two years, starting at 18. If you are 40 years or older, or between 18 and 39, but with a genetic predisposition or a heightened risk of developing high blood pressure, you should try to have your blood pressure checked annually.

Individuals with existing high blood pressure or other risk factors for heart disease may receive more frequent recommendations for blood pressure monitoring from their healthcare provider.

Blood pressure measurement is typically a part of annual checkups for children aged three and above. Regular blood pressure monitoring is essential for timely detection and management of potential health issues.

How do internists treat cancer?

Internists approach cancer treatment through the subspecialty of medical oncology, which focuses on diagnosing and managing benign and malignant tumors. Oncologists, or internal medicine physicians specializing in oncology, work closely with general internists and other healthcare professionals to identify patients at risk for cancer and evaluate symptoms that may suggest malignancies. When a cancer diagnosis is confirmed, oncologists typically take over the care of patients with solid or blood-related tumors, aiming to cure the disease, extend the patient's life, or manage symptoms.

Many oncologists operate within specialized oncology groups, collaborating with other physicians to provide comprehensive patient care and frequently consulting with other doctors and healthcare facilities. In academic institutions, oncologists often engage in basic and clinical research and contribute to training medical students and residents.

For those pursuing a broader skill set, a combined hematology-oncology fellowship offers training in both oncology and hematology. This dual program equips internal medicine physicians to diagnose, treat, and manage various cancers and blood disorders.

What is the difference between internists and family physicians?

With considerable overlap in their areas of functioning, people can often get confused between family physicians and internists. Family physicians treat patients of all ages, whether children or adults, provide gynecological care to female patients, and manage and treat their overall health. 

However, internists only treat adults, especially geriatrics, and focus on the health management of the internal organs and processes. Internists treat chronic issues such as COPD, elevated cholesterol, heart disease, endocrine problems, kidney issues, infectious diseases, and blood disorders. These illnesses or complications generally develop as we age.

When should one visit an internist?

You must see your internist for any illnesses or issues you experience if they are your primary care provider (PCP). If the internist is not your PCP, you would only visit them when you have a specific problem. For example, you could fix an appointment with an internist for chest or stomach pain. Both of these issues have various root causes. For instance, experiencing pain in the chest could be because of acid reflux or a lung or digestive system problem. 

Of course, it's also possible that it's a heart attack sign. In this case, you must immediately dial 911. You can see an internist if the issue is less severe. The same holds for the causes of abdominal discomfort because of gastrointestinal illness, muscle strain, acute appendicitis, or malignancy. If you are experiencing significant distress, go to the emergency department; otherwise, consult an internist.  

What to expect at an internist appointment? 

If you have already chosen from the best internists near you and booked an appointment, it's time to learn what you can expect from your initial consultation. Knowing what to anticipate and being prepared for a doctor's appointment can help you make the most of your consultation and save on future medical costs. 

You can expect your internist to record your basic health information during the first visit. This may include your medical history and family history. They may also record your weight, height, vital signs, and blood pressure. This information will help your internist diagnose your condition more accurately. They will ask you about your recurrent symptoms and how long you've been experiencing them. You should also tell your internist about all the medications you have been taking (including over-the-counter medicines and supplements) and if you have had any tests or surgeries performed in the past. 

After understanding your symptoms, your internist may perform a physical examination or recommend diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and blood and urine tests. An internist's physical assessment will depend on your symptoms. A general physical examination entails the following: 

• Observing your overall appearance, i.e., your posture and gait 
• Checking your breathing for wheezing or shortness of breath
• Examining your eyes, skin, ears, nose, throat, and nails 
• Checking your heartbeat for abnormalities, a heart murmur, or any other unusual sounds

If your internist conducts an exam, they may recommend routine blood tests such as blood sugar, lipid panels, and bone density tests. Your internist may then ask you to follow up with your test results. After testing, they may recommend various treatment options, including medications, diet, and lifestyle changes. In case of surgery, the internist may refer you to other specialists.

How can you find a good internist in Shreveport, Louisiana?

Finding top-rated internal medicine doctors near you can take some time. However, Zocdoc makes connecting with qualified medical specialists from your home more accessible. You can now avoid the difficulties of standing in lines at hospitals or clinical facilities to make an appointment. Zocdoc allows you to make a virtual appointment or fix an in-person consultation with the providers available in our directory. 

Visit the website and enter your symptoms, location, and insurance plan, and Zocdoc will present you with a list of the best internal medicine doctors in your vicinity. You can narrow your search results by languages spoken, location, gender, hospital affiliation, and whether or not a provider serves children. To streamline the list of internist in-network providers, choose your insurance company and plan from the drop-down option at the top.

If you need assistance locating internists who accept your insurance, our online patient support center is here to help. On Zocdoc, you can link your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account, though you can only use one plan per appointment.

You can add your secondary insurance details in the appointment notes for those with multiple insurance plans. Alternatively, if your healthcare provider uses Zocdoc’s Intake forms, you can also enter your secondary insurance information there.

Zocdoc also assists you in making an informed choice by summarizing each provider's educational history, including any clinical training, awards, certificates, licenses, and accreditation. Zocdoc also provides genuine and trustworthy client testimonials to help you pick the ideal one from all the internists near you. 

Booking appointments with Zocdoc is simple, secure, and 100% free!

Statistics on internists in Louisiana

Per the state health facts published by the Kaiser Family Foundation, there were around 2,591 internists in Louisiana as of May 2022 out of the state's close to 6,529 primary care physicians. Internists were active at a higher percentage (2591, 39.7%) compared to other primary care physicians, such as family medicine (1850, 28.33%), pediatrics (1,216, 18.62%), obstetrics & gynecologists (866, 13.26%), and geriatrics (6, 0.0009%). 

As per the Louisiana physician workforce profile published on the Association of American Medical College website, it was almost double the figure for internists in 2016, with around 1,379 internists and 145 internal medicine-pediatrics. This means there was nearly one internist for every 3,395 people and one internal medicine pediatrician for every 32,287. Of the internists in 2016, about 434 were female (31.5%), and 389 (28.2%) were 60 or older. Of the 145 pediatric internists, 75 were women (51.7%).

Sources

WebMD

American College of Physicians

Cleveland Clinic

American University of Antigua

University Of California

Kaiser Family Foundation

Logansport Memorial Hospital 

Mayo Clinic[1]

Mayo Clinic[2]

Mayo Clinic[3]

Mayo Clinic[4]

Mayo Clinic[5]

Mayo Clinic[6]

World Health Organization

American College of Physicians[1]

American College of Physicians[2]

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.