Internal Medicine in United States

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases in adults. It covers a wide variety of conditions that affect the internal organs of the body, including the heart, liver and gastrointestinal tract, lungs, kidneys, and urinary tract, spinal column, brain, nerves, muscles, and joints. Physicians who specialize in internal medicine are called internists or internal medicine physicians. They treat adults of all ages and are usually the first point of treatment. Internists are skilled in the management of patients who have multi-system disease processes. There are numerous subspecialties, including endocrinology, cardiology, infectious diseases, hematology, pulmonary disease, gastroenterology, rheumatology, oncology, and immunology.

Since internal medicine is a broad field, the work of internists varies a lot. For example, they could work with a patient who has diabetes and another patient with an ear infection. Some of the most common conditions that are diagnosed and treated by internists are as follows:

• Asthma
• Acute respiratory infections
• Diabetes
• Chest pain
• Bronchitis
• Fatigue
• Hypertension
• Influenza
• High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
• Menopause
• Hypothyroidism
• Sinus infections
• Osteoarthritis
• Migraine
• Pneumonia
• Osteoporosis.

Internists mainly focused on the diagnosis and treatment with medications. The following are some common procedures they perform:

• Chronic disease management
• Breathing treatments and medications
• General health procedures, such as immunization and annual physical exam
• Medication administration, such as antibiotic injections and intravenous fluid for dehydration
• Minor procedures, such as stitches, stitch or staple removal, wart removal
• Pre-operative and post-operative care
• Injury-related procedures, such as immobilizing sprains
• Healthy lifestyle counseling
• Family planning prescriptions and treatments, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), oral contraceptives, and hormone patches and shots
• Nutrition and weight counseling, such as ways to avoid malnutrition and maintain a normal weight.

How Long Should I Stay in United States?                   

Your length of stay depends on the procedure you underwent and the illness or disease you have. Plan to stay in United States for at least 2 to 7 days. Before you are allowed to travel home, your doctor may schedule a follow-up appointment where your doctor evaluates how your body is responding to treatments. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Since internal medicine covers a wide range of conditions, the recovery time can vary a lot. The recovery period depends on the type of treatment, specific condition, and overall health. Most of the time, you will be allowed to resume normal activities (usually with certain restrictions) once you do not feel any symptoms that interfere with your ability to perform your daily tasks. However, make sure to talk to your doctor first before you decide to return to work and go back to your normal routine. Your doctor will likely give you a detailed recovery timeline. 

What Aftercare is Required?

Your doctor will give you a specific aftercare instruction that is designed for your specific condition. Make sure to follow all the instructions closely to avoid complications and to have a quick recovery time. If your doctor prescribes medicine, ensure to take it as directed. With chronic disease management, you will be given tips for self-management, and you may need to see your internist regularly.

What's the Success Rate?

The continuous advancement of internal medicine and medical technology, as well as the extensive knowledge and experience of internists, have made internal medicine procedures highly successful and safe. All medical procedure carries some types of risks, but the risks of internal medicine procedures are typically minimal. For example, a medication used for breathing treatment may cause headaches, nervousness, shakiness, irritability, and heart palpitations.

Are there Alternatives?

The alternative depends on the specific disease or illness you have. In most cases, seeing an internist is the first point of treatment. Your internist may then refer you to or work with the relevant specialists.