Hazrat Rasul Akram educational, research and treatment complex

What diseases does an internist treat?

As we said, many diseases related to the organs and internal systems of the body are diagnosed and treated by an internist. Below are some of the most important diseases that can be treated and managed by an internist.

1. Diabetes

Diabetes is a type of disease that has no cure, but it can be managed with the help of medications and lifestyle changes. People with diabetes have high blood glucose or blood sugar levels. A hormone called insulin is responsible for processing glucose to provide energy to cells. When the body does not produce enough insulin to use insulin, sugar remains in the blood. In people with diabetes, insulin becomes defective and, if left uncontrolled, can cause kidney damage, blindness, heart disease, or stroke.

Symptoms such as frequent urination, extreme thirst and hunger, unusual weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and numbness in the hands and feet can be signs of diabetes, and you should see your doctor if you experience such symptoms.

2. High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a condition that can lead to heart disease, stroke, or other health problems. Sometimes it develops gradually, and sometimes underlying conditions such as kidney problems, tumors, or medications can cause high blood pressure. If you are overweight or smoke or drink a lot, you should have your blood pressure checked regularly.

Symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, frequent nosebleeds, and nausea are signs of high blood pressure. If you don’t see a doctor to treat and manage your blood pressure, you may develop problems such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, vision loss, memory problems, or kidney failure.

3. High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is needed to build cells in the body. But when it gets too high, it can cause problems in the body. High cholesterol causes fatty deposits to build up in the blood vessels. These deposits can block blood flow to the heart and brain, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Factors such as smoking, lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a family history of heart disease increase the risk of high cholesterol. 4. Thyroid Disorders

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped organ in the front of the neck. The hormones produced by the thyroid help control vital body functions. There are different types of thyroid diseases, each of which affects the function and structure of the thyroid gland. When the thyroid gland is not working properly, many problems occur in the body. When thyroid hormone production increases, a person has hyperthyroidism, and when hormone production decreases, a person has hypothyroidism.

Excessive secretion of thyroid hormone causes high energy expenditure, fatigue, increased heart rate, weight loss, and nerve problems. Hypothyroidism also causes fatigue, excess weight, and cold intolerance. Various conditions can disrupt thyroid hormone production. If you have symptoms related to these two disorders, you should immediately see an internal medicine specialist so that the desired medications can be prescribed. 5. Digestive problems

Many digestive diseases have similar symptoms and you should see a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux, gallstones, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and hemorrhoids are among the digestive problems that are more common than other diseases. If you suspect any of these diseases, you should see an internal medicine doctor for a thorough examination. 6. Acid reflux

This condition occurs when stomach acid enters the esophagus. In this condition, you will feel a burning sensation in the chest. Acid reflux often worsens after meals or at night. Many people may experience this problem occasionally. But when acid reflux occurs at least twice a week, it is a sign of a chronic digestive disease. If you experience heartburn, bad breath, tooth erosion, nausea, and chest or upper abdominal pain along with acid reflux, you should see a doctor. 7. Gallstones

When hard deposits form in the gallbladder, it is called gallstones. The cause of this disease can be the accumulation of cholesterol or other waste in the bile, or the person develops gallstones because the gallbladder does not empty. When gallstones block the gallbladder's path to the intestine, they cause severe pain in the upper right side of the abdomen. The doctor may prescribe medication to treat this problem. But sometimes the only treatment is surgery. 8. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If your digestive system is very irritable or you have stomach and intestinal pain at least three times a month, you may have irritable bowel syndrome. Symptoms of this condition can include constipation and diarrhea on consecutive days and bloating. The main treatment is to change your diet. These people should eat low-fat, high-fiber foods. It is best to reduce your intake of dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and carbonated drinks.

9. Hemorrhoids

If you see blood in your stool, it is likely that it is hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are a very common condition. Another name for them is piles. Inflammation of the blood vessels at the end of the digestive tract causes hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are painful and itchy. Factors such as chronic constipation, diarrhea, straining during bowel movements, and a lack of fiber in the diet can cause hemorrhoids. Sometimes this problem can be treated by eating more fiber, drinking more water, and exercising. 10. Liver Problems

The liver is the largest organ in the body and helps digest food, store energy, and eliminate toxins. There are various diseases related to the liver, each with its own symptoms. But in most of these diseases, swelling of the abdomen and legs, bruising, discoloration of stool, urine, and yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes occur. To diagnose liver diseases, an internist prescribes various tests such as imaging tests and liver function tests (blood tests).

11. Hepatitis

One type of liver problem is hepatitis. Hepatitis is actually an inflammation of the liver and is caused by an injury or infection of the tissue. This type of inflammation can cause serious damage to the liver. There are different types of hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, and C. Each type of hepatitis causes different complications. Usually, drug addicts, people undergoing dialysis, those who come into contact with infected blood or needles at work, or those who have multiple sexual partners are more at risk of developing this disease. 12. Fatty liver

Fatty liver disease occurs when fat accumulates in the liver. This type of disease is divided into two types: alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver. Alcoholic fatty liver is caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The liver breaks down most of the alcohol you consume and removes it from the body. In the process of breaking down, there is a high possibility of producing toxic substances. These types of substances can damage the liver. In this condition, liver inflammation increases and the body's immune system weakens.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not related to alcohol consumption and is most often caused by an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise. This disease has two forms. In simple fatty liver disease, there is little inflammation and damage to the liver and usually does not cause liver damage. However, in the other type, fat affects the liver and causes inflammation and damage to liver cells.

13. Liver Cancer

Liver cancer can occur in two forms. In the primary form, the cancer starts in the liver, and in the second form, it spreads to the liver from another organ. Primary cancer may be caused by hepatitis B or C, heavy alcohol consumption, cirrhosis or liver scarring, hemochromatosis (an iron storage disease), or obesity and diabetes.

Symptoms of liver cancer include a lump or pain in the right side of the abdomen and yellowing of the skin. Sometimes, a person does not experience any symptoms until the cancer has progressed.

You can see an internist for diagnosis and treatment of liver problems, such as hepatitis, liver cancer, fatty liver, and other liver diseases.

14. Lung Diseases

Lung diseases are among the most common diseases worldwide. The main causes of these diseases are smoking, infection, air pollution, and genes. The lungs are a complex system that expands and relaxes thousands of times a day to take in oxygen and remove carbon dioxide from the body. When there is a problem with any part of this system, a person will develop lung disease. 15. Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease that affects the lungs. In this disease, the airways become inflamed and narrow, making it difficult to breathe. When the airways become stiff, inflamed, and filled with mucus, the muscles around the lungs tighten, making it difficult to breathe. A person in this condition experiences symptoms such as coughing (especially at night and in the morning), wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness, pain, and pressure in the chest, and sleep disturbances due to difficulty breathing. 16. Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a contagious infection that affects the lungs. It can also attack other parts of the body, such as the brain and spine. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Today, tuberculosis can be treated with various antibiotics. Of course, the duration of treatment is long and the doctor may prescribe medication for up to 9 months.

If you experience symptoms such as cough for more than 3 weeks, chest pain, cough with blood, feeling tired, night sweats, fever and chills, loss of appetite and weight loss, you should definitely see an internal medicine doctor to have a tuberculosis diagnosis test done. respiratory diseases You can also see an internal medicine doctor to treat diseases related to the respiratory system. 17. Lung cancer

Usually, lung cancer does not have symptoms in the early stages. However, after the disease progresses, symptoms such as chronic and harsh cough, sometimes with blood, changes in cough for a long time, respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, shortness of breath, fatigue and hoarseness can be observed. In lung cancer, the airways are gradually blocked and these symptoms occur. 18. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a type of lung infection that can range from mild to severe. The infection causes the air sacs to fill with fluid and pus. Anyone can get it. But children under 2 and people over 65 are most at risk. Pneumonia can affect one or both lungs. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi can cause the disease. If pneumonia is caused by bacteria or viruses, it can spread to other people.

People who get pneumonia usually experience symptoms such as chest pain when breathing, a cough with phlegm, fatigue and loss of appetite, fever, sweating and chills, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. 19. Chronic bronchitis

When there is a harmful agent in the lungs, the lungs try to remove these agents by coughing. But when a cough doesn’t go away for a long time, it could be a serious problem. There are air tubes in the lungs called bronchi that can become irritated and inflamed.

In this condition, a person may have a persistent cough for at least 3 months out of the year. Chronic bronchitis keeps coming back and doesn’t go away completely.

Symptoms of chronic bronchitis include a cough with mucus, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and feeling tired. These symptoms get worse in the winter and cold weather. Factors such as cigarettes, dust, certain fumes such as hairspray, air pollution, and smoke from fires can trigger bronchitis. 20. Respiratory Infection

Respiratory tract infections affect breathing and involve various parts of the body, such as the sinuses, throat, airways, and lungs. If you have symptoms such as cough (with phlegm or prolonged), stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, shortness of breath, fever, or feeling unwell, you should see an internist. Depending on the type of infection, your doctor may prescribe medications such as nasal sprays, decongestants, ibuprofen, or cough suppressants.

You can see an internist to diagnose and treat lung diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections, pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, etc.

21. Menopause

Menopause is the end of the menstrual cycle and is diagnosed when a person has not had a period for 12 months. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 40 and 50. This process is a natural and biological part of the body and is manifested by symptoms such as hot flashes, emotional symptoms, sleep disturbances, and decreased energy. There are effective treatments to reduce these symptoms that an internist can do with hormone therapy or other medications. 22. Migraine

A migraine is a type of headache that occurs in a throbbing manner. Migraines usually affect one side of the head. A person who has a migraine experiences symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light. Migraine attacks can last from a few hours to a few days.

Sometimes these attacks are so severe that a person has difficulty performing daily activities. This disease may be fatal.