Internal Medicine

An internal medicine specialist is a medical doctor specializing in all kinds of internal diseases.

This branch of medicine covers a wide variety of conditions that affect organs in the body. Internal medicine specialists only deal with the diagnosis and treatment of adults, and they do not play a role in the health services of children or adolescents.

What is internal medicine?

The internal diseases department examines the internal organ systems of individuals who have passed childhood. It provides diagnosis and treatment services related to dysfunctions of the organs of this system. Besides, it raises awareness of the preventive health care system.

Internal medicine specialists treat a wide variety of conditions in adults. However, some internists focus on specific areas of internal medicine within their specialization. Examples of these sub-specialties include:

• cardiology

• endocrinology

• gastroenterology

• infectious disease

• hematology

• oncology

• lung disease

• rheumatology

• immunology

Internal medicine specialists play a role in each of these areas.

General internal medicine is a discipline that is the basis of all clinical branches of medicine. The problems of the majority of patients who apply to health institutions are within the scope of internal diseases. It covers a wide scale such as upper and lower respiratory tract diseases, hypertension, gastrointestinal system diseases, kidney diseases, thyroid diseases, diabetes, rheumatic diseases.

Types of internal medicine

Internal medicine is a science that consists of 6 main sections.

These sections are;

• Hematology (blood diseases)

• Endocrinology (hormone diseases)

• Gastroenterology (digestive system diseases)

• Oncology (benign and malignant tumors)

• Rheumatology (rheumatic diseases)

• Nephrology (kidney diseases and hypertension)

Hematology

It is the science that examines diseases caused by blood, blood-forming organs (bone marrow, spleen), and lymph nodes. For the diagnosis of hematology diseases, bone marrow examination may be required in addition to blood analysis.

Major hematological diseases are;

• Anemia (anemia)

• Vitamin B12 deficiency

• Leukemia

• Lymphoma

• Multiple myeloma

• Bleeding and coagulation disorders

• Hemophilia

Endocrinology

Many hormones regulate the healthy functioning of our body and the organs that secrete them. Endocrinology examines diseases caused by under or overproduction of these hormones.

The main diseases in this group are;

• Diabetes

• Hypertension (high blood pressure)

• Thyroid diseases (goiter etc.)

• Adrenal gland diseases

• Obesity (overweight)

• Osteoporosis

• High cholesterol, high triglycerides

• Hairiness

Gastroenterology

It examines the disorders of all digestive system organs from the mouth to the anus (mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine, gall bladder, liver, pancreas). Endoscopic diagnostic methods and ultrasound are frequently used in this branch of science.

Major diseases in this group are;

• Reflux

• Gastritis

• Stomach ulcer, stomach bleeding

• Indigestion

• Diarrhea

• Colitis

• Constipation, hemorrhoids

• Liver Diseases (hepatitis A, B, C, cirrhosis, fatty liver, jaundice)

• Gallstones and inflammations

• Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF)

• Pancreatic inflammation

• Tumors in the gastrointestinal system

Oncology

It is the science in which benign or malignant tumors of various organs are diagnosed and treated. Detailed tests may be required for diagnosis (such as blood tests, x-ray, ultrasound, tomography, MRI, biopsy, mammography, and endoscopy). In treatment, depending on the type and stage of the disease, medication or surgery can be applied.

Nephrology

It is the science that examines the diseases of the excretory system, especially the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract.

Its main diseases are;

• Kidney inflammations (such as nephritis, pyelonephritis)

• Kidney failure (acute or chronic)

• Urinary tract infections

• Hypertension (of kidney origin)

Internal medicine as a guiding department

Apart from the six departments described above, internal medicine also has a guiding role for diseases related to neurology, psychiatry, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, and cardiology.

Internists treat adults of all ages and are the first point of treatment for most people. Our internal medicine specialists have an important role in both the clinic and the intensive care unit. Internal medicine specialists, who have a wide range of work, follow many people who are treated, especially elderly patients, for a long time and can refer them to other departments.