Internal medicine covers a wide range of diseases affecting the body's internal organs — the heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal system, kidneys and urinary tract. The internist looks for connections between symptoms to identify typical syndromes and establish an accurate diagnosis.
When should you see an internist?
A visit to our internal medicine practice is primarily recommended when you are uncertain about your symptoms, have no clear idea where your complaint may originate, and cannot decide which specialist to consult.
It is typically advisable to see an internist for the following symptoms:
- General symptoms: fatigue, lethargy, pallor, weakness, malaise
- Febrile conditions, persistently elevated temperature
- High blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels
- Loss of appetite, nausea
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Sudden, significant weight changes
- Difficulty swallowing, heartburn, reflux
- Chest pain
- Persistent abdominal pain, bloating
We also perform general health assessments and pre-operative examinations at our practice.
What happens during an internal medicine examination?
The examination begins with a detailed medical history: our specialist thoroughly asks about your current complaints, previous illnesses, surgeries, regularly taken medications, known allergies and family medical history.
This is followed by a painless physical examination. The specialist measures your blood pressure and pulse, listens to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope, then palpates the thyroid, lymph nodes and abdominal organs. Based on the findings, further tests — laboratory results, ultrasound, ECG — may be ordered.
What laboratory tests can an internist request?
Laboratory tests are a routine part of internal medicine investigations, playing a key role in establishing a diagnosis, developing a treatment plan and monitoring the effectiveness of medication.
Complete blood count — determines the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, helping to identify infections, anaemia and inflammatory conditions. Blood sugar and electrolyte tests (potassium, calcium, sodium, iron) provide information about the heart, liver and kidneys.
Urine tests — reveal possible urinary tract infections, kidney stones and renal dysfunction. Analysis of urine specific gravity, pH, protein, glucose, red and white blood cell levels provides a comprehensive picture of the urinary system.
Hormone tests — for suspected thyroid problems, TSH, FT3 and FT4 levels are assessed; for adrenal abnormalities, cortisol and aldosterone levels are examined.
Food allergy and intolerance testing — for digestive complaints, IgE-based allergy tests and IgG-based intolerance tests can identify problematic foods. Based on the results, our specialist may recommend an elimination diet.
How to prepare for the examination
Please bring your previous internal medicine reports, surgical discharge summaries, and a list of currently taken medications with dosages. This information helps our specialist establish an accurate diagnosis.
Why choose IRIS Medical for internal medicine?
Our highly qualified specialists have extensive experience in internal medicine diagnostics. We provide personalised care: for any complaint affecting any organ system, we proceed thoroughly and precisely in establishing a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan tailored to your needs.
We place special emphasis on an empathetic, patient approach — we know that health problems can often cause anxiety. Please contact us with confidence for general screenings, examinations, and acute or chronic internal medicine complaints.