Internal Medicine Q & A

What is internal medicine?

Internal medicine is another way to say medical care for adults, like pediatrics is medical care for children and geriatrics is healthcare for seniors. Internal medicine varies from general to specific in practice. For example, both general practitioners and gynecologists practice internal medicine.

What services are included in internal medicine?

At DOCCS, our physicians offer a wide range of medical services including:

• Physicals and wellness exams

• Screenings for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure etc.

• Allergies and asthma

• Seasonal illnesses like cold, sore throat, and flu

• Medical conditions like rashes, burns, UTIs, etc

How often should I have a physical?

You should have a physical or wellness exam at least once a year. These regular appointments give your doctor a chance to get to know you and to keep records to monitor any changes in your health.

An annual appointment is also a great opportunity to stay up-to-date with the health screenings that help doctors keep an eye on your well being and diagnose any issues in their earliest possible stages. Many health issues don’t present any symptoms in their earlier and more treatable stages.

What regular health screenings should I have?

You should have general health screenings like blood pressure, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI) annually. Women should have Pap smears every three years unless you have a family history of cervical cancer, in which case you should have more frequent tests. Similarly, women should have mammograms every two years after the age of 50 unless there is a reason to have more frequent tests. Men should have tests for prostate cancer every five years. Both men and women should have colorectal cancer screenings starting around the age of 50 unless there is a reason to check earlier and more frequently.

Most of these screenings can be taken care of during your annual physical or wellness exam. If you happen to need an immunization, you can also usually get your dose at these appointments, such as tetanus boosters or hepatitis immunizations.