General Medicine
General medicine is also called internal medicine, is a
branch of medicine that cover kinds of diseases affecting your internal organs.
General medical practitioners, also called internists, diagnose and treat a
wide variety of diseases.
When should you visit a general medicine doctor?
- You may visit a general medical practitioner if you are experiencing serious symptoms such as: severe cold and cough lasting more than 2 weeks with fever, shortness of breath and congestion.
- Persistent fever (temperature over 102 degrees). Severe pain in different parts of the body such as chest, abdomen or pelvis.
- These could cause serious conditions in the future, e.g., heart attack or gallstones.
- Lack of energy and regular fatigue. These could be related to diseases like anemia or thyroid.
What is checked during a general exam?
You will be screened for:
- Obesity based on BMI
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Tobacco use
- Depression
- High blood pressure
- Hepatitis C
- HIV testing for adults aged 15 to 65
- Diabetes type 2
- Colorectal cancer (more prominent after age 50)
- Lung cancer, for patients who smoke or used to smoke
- Blood test (for cholesterol)
- ECG (Electrocardiogram)
What does general medicine offer?
- Comprehensive care for people with a variety of symptoms: diagnosis of disease.
- Preventive medical care: Performing various tests like physical examination, blood pressure test and screening to ensure proper health of the patient.
- Communicating with the patient: If the patient is suffering from a chronic disease, the doctor remains in touch with them and provides constant care and advice.
- Collaborating: Refer the patient to different specialists and doctors depending on the disease and treatment.
- Review Patients: Follow-up on patients undergoing surgery and assist surgeons with postoperative care or any other complications.
What to expect during a general check-up?
- The doctor performs a physical examination of the entire body, including:
- Looking for abnormal growths or anomalies
- Checking the location, stability, size, and tenderness of your internal organs.
- Listen to the sounds of your heart, lungs and intestines using a stethoscope
- Palpation of the body like a drum to detect abnormal fluid retention.
- Pap smear in women ages 21 to 65
- Other tests depending on your age, current health condition, and health risks
- After the tests are conducted, the doctor will inform you of his findings and results. He may recommend some more tests depending on the condition. He will also suggest appropriate medicines and lifestyle changes. When you want to get a check-up you should search for “General Medicine Doctors Near Me.
Conclusion:
General Medical Hospitals deal with many diseases that can
be diagnosed through various tests conducted by physicians who are experts in
different subjects. General medicine can help a person suffering from any
physical or mental illness by providing non-surgery-related procedures.
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