What is internal medicine? Who are internists?
Internal medicine focuses on conditions affecting the internal organs and systems, including the cardiovascular, urinary, endocrine, digestive, respiratory, immune, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems. A doctor specializing in this field is an internal medicine specialist or general internist. Some internists may further specialize in a particular area within internal medicine, such as cardiology, endocrinology, and more.
Internists are qualified to diagnose, treat, manage, and prevent internal diseases in all adults above 18 years. However, they cannot perform surgeries. As internists are experts in chronic disease management, they care for aging adults who often suffer from multiple chronic conditions simultaneously. Internists offer outpatient care in private offices or clinics and inpatient care in hospitals, intensive care units, and hospice centers. They can also be primary care providers, treat acute illnesses and injuries, and provide preventive healthcare services.
Education and training
To become an internist, one must first earn a four-year undergraduate degree and complete the following steps:
- Complete a medical school program, typically spanning four years.
- Engage in a three-year internal medicine residency.
- Clear an American Board of Internal Medicine exam to obtain certification.
Internists pursuing a subspecialty will require one to three years of additional education. Cardiology, pulmonary disease, oncology, critical care, and hematology are among the internists' most popular areas of specialization.
Specialties of internal medicine
Internists can specialize in various fields within internal medicine, allowing them to focus on specific areas of patient care and treatment. These specialties encompass diverse medical fields and require dedicated expertise. Here are the key specialties:
- Adolescent medicine: These specialists focus on the healthcare needs of adolescents and young adults, covering physical, psychological, and social aspects. Additional training typically lasts one to three years.
- Cardiovascular disease: These specialists diagnose and treat heart-related problems, namely coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Their training involves a rigorous three-year fellowship.
- Endocrinology: These experts specialize in hormonal disorders affecting glands like the thyroid and pancreas. Training options include a two-year clinical curriculum or a three-year combined clinical and research fellowship.
- Gastroenterology: These specialists manage gastrointestinal tract and liver disorders, undergoing a comprehensive three-year fellowship.
- Hematology: These specialists focus on blood disorders and diseases of the immune system, completing a two-year fellowship post-residency.
- Hematology/medical oncology: It combines expertise in blood disorders with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Fellows undergo a three-year training program.
- Infectious disease: These specialists diagnose and treat contagious diseases, completing a two-year fellowship.
- Medical oncology: It specializes in diagnosing and managing cancer, typically involving a two-year fellowship.
- Nephrology: These experts specialize in kidney disorders and related conditions and undergo a two-year fellowship.
- Pulmonary disease: These specialists treat inpatient and outpatient lung diseases, completing a two- or three-year fellowship.
- Rheumatology: These specialists diagnose and treat arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders, completing a two-year fellowship.
- Geriatrics: It focuses on the health needs of older adults, addressing age-related conditions, typically with a one- or two-year fellowship.
- Allergy and immunology: These specialists prevent, diagnose, and treat disorders of the immune system, typically completing a two-year fellowship.
- Sports medicine: This specialty specializes in managing health issues related to athletics and physical fitness and involves a one-year fellowship.
Common chronic diseases in older adults treated by internists
Various chronic diseases affect adults as they age. Some of the most common ones treated and managed by internists in adults 65 years and above include the following:
- Hypertension, or high blood pressure- It is a condition in which the force of the blood on the artery walls is constantly high, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. Untreated hypertension can lead to many complications, such as heart attack and stroke. Generally, there are no symptoms, but some may experience headaches, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds.
- High cholesterol- Elevated cholesterol levels result in the accumulation of fatty substances within the blood vessels, impeding the smooth flow of blood. This condition, too, produces no symptoms and can increase the likelihood of heart attack, heart disease, or stroke.
- Arthritis- Arthritis is a distressing ailment that affects the joints and causes pain. It encompasses many conditions, with over 100 different types identified. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis rank among the most prevalent types. Arthritis causes swelling, inflammation, pain, and joint stiffness that can worsen with time and age.
- Coronary heart disease- It is a condition in which it is difficult for the blood vessels to supply nutrient-rich and oxygenated blood to the heart. It is usually a result of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Complications include blood clots, angina, or a heart attack.
- Diabetes- It is a collection of conditions wherein the body experiences either insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production, resulting in elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream. If left uncontrolled, it can cause severe effects on other body parts such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, foot, and skin.
- Chronic kidney disease- It refers to the progressive decline in kidney function, which leads to significant kidney damage. The primary factors contributing to this condition are hypertension/high blood pressure and diabetes (type 1 and type 2).
- Heart failure- It occurs when the heart cannot adequately pump blood throughout the body. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, leg swelling, irregular heartbeat, rapid weight gain, and nausea.
- Depression- It is a psychological condition characterized by enduring sadness, decreased engagement in everyday tasks, a sense of hopelessness, occasional outbursts of anger or intense emotions, persistent tiredness, decision-making challenges, sleep pattern disruptions, and eating habits.
- Alzheimer's disease- This disease is a degenerative brain condition that causes challenges in remembering, cognitive functions, decision-making, daily tasks, emotional well-being, behavior, and social interactions. Over time, it gradually intensifies reliance on others for assistance.
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease- It arises from two lung conditions: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Symptoms encompass shortness of breath, coughing, and chest tightness.
How can internists help you manage chronic conditions?
Chronic conditions seriously impact your quality of life, but it is possible to improve it with the help of continuous medical care. Internists possess a wealth of knowledge and expertise in caring for individuals suffering from numerous complex and persistent health conditions, enabling them to effectively support you in managing these challenges.
An internist can help you manage your chronic conditions, prevent further disease complications, and reduce healthcare costs with the help of regular checkups, health screenings, physical examinations, and health education. During your initial visit, they will diagnose and assess your condition, explain it, and discuss a treatment plan. They will also help you make lifestyle and diet changes such as quitting smoking and alcohol, losing weight, exercising, and eating healthy. They will guide you on ways you can monitor your health at home and help you understand symptoms that would need urgent medical attention.
For your follow-up visits, the internist will assess your progress with the chronic disease through health screenings and tests. They will evaluate your response to the current treatment plan and make any necessary modifications. If you are facing any side effects or mental health problems related to your disease, treatment, or management, discuss them with your internist. They may also write referrals if they sense the need for specialist intervention.
What to anticipate when you first visit an internist doctor near you?
Depending on the purpose of your visit, what you can anticipate from your initial appointment with an internist may change. However, generally, you can expect the following steps in your medical care:
- Upon arrival, your internist will assess your vital signs, review your medical history, and examine your current medications. They will inquire about your symptoms and overall well-being.
- They will observe your general physical health, including your posture and movement.
- They will listen to your heart to check for abnormalities like murmurs, irregular heartbeats, or unusual sounds.
- They will also listen to your breathing to detect any crackles, wheezing, or signs of shortness of breath.
- They will examine your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat.
- They may also inspect your skin and nails.
The doctor may offer further screening tests, like a lipid panel or bone density test, based on your wellness goals and overall health. If you have specific health concerns, the internist may order appropriate tests, ranging from a simple urinalysis to more advanced imaging procedures. They may also suggest scheduling a follow-up visit or referring you to a different specialist if necessary.
In cases where you are already seeing other specialists, your internist may collaborate with them to ensure coordinated and comprehensive care. They will strive to avoid any potential interactions between medications prescribed by different doctors. A top-notch internist is proactive and may guide lifestyle modifications and preventive measures. They also acknowledge the importance of mental health and may check for signs of conditions like depression or anxiety.
Find the best internist doctors near you in West Palm Beach, FL
Internists can become your trusted and lasting healthcare providers for acute illnesses, injuries, and chronic health conditions throughout your adult years. They can help you meet all your lifestyle goals for healthy living. Zocdoc is a platform that simplifies finding your desired expert.
If you are looking for an internist doctor in West Palm Beach, FL, search by adding the specialist you seek, your location, preferred appointment date, and insurance details in the search box. You will immediately receive matching results.
If the list of internists is extensive, you can filter your results based on gender, language, hospital affiliations, etc. You can check expert profiles with relevant information, such as their educational background, board certifications, professional memberships, and awards. You can also review patient feedback to get first-hand information about the internist.
Once you have finished your search and found the right internist doctor near you, you can book an in-person or virtual appointment without further delay.
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Chronic disease statistics in Florida
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's dataset, Florida's leading cause of death in 2020 was heart disease. The other chronic diseases that followed were cancer at rank second, stroke fifth, chronic lower respiratory diseases sixth, and diabetes seventh.
The Florida Department of Health released data on deaths from various chronic diseases in 2020. Approximately 49,208 Floridians died from heart disease, 45,723 from cancer, 15,356 from stroke, 11,786 from chronic lower respiratory diseases, and 7,516 from diabetes.
As stated in America's Health Rankings report, in 2020, around 10% of adults had some form of cardiovascular disease, including angina or coronary heart disease, heart attack, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Its prevalence was higher among males (about 11.7% cases) than females (about 8.4% cases). Older people were the most affected, with about 22.4% of adults being 65 years and above, followed by around 9.4% of adults between 45-64 years and about 2.4% between 18-44 years old.
Another America's Health Rankings 2020 report found that about 7.3% of Floridian adults were affected by asthma and around 7.5% by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Roughly 9.4% of females had asthma, and 8.2% had COPD, while about 5.1% of males had asthma and 6.8% had COPD, making chronic lower respiratory diseases more prevalent amongst females than males. Asthma affected all age groups, while COPD affected older adults more than the other age groups.
America's Health Rankings 2020 report on diabetes found around 11.8% of adults in Florida had diabetes. This figure excludes prediabetes and gestational diabetes cases. Adults of both genders were equally affected by diabetes—the figures stood at about 11.9% females and 11.7% males. Diabetes was prevalent among all age groups— about 2.7% of affected adults were between 18-44 years, around 13.3% between 45-64 years, and a striking 23.9% were 65 years and above.
Sources
WebMD
European Federation of Internal Medicine
National Council on Aging
University Hospitals
Harvard Medical School
America's Health Rankings[1]
America's Health Rankings[2]
America's Health Rankings[3]
America's Health Rankings[4]
Florida Department of Health[1]
Florida Department of Health[2]
Florida Department of Health[3]
Florida Department of Health[4]
Florida Department of Health[5]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
University of Iowa Health Care
