Internal Medicine (Dahiliye): The Cornerstone of Adult Health

Internal Medicine (Dahiliye) is a comprehensive medical specialty focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of a wide range of diseases in adult individuals. It addresses various health concerns, including cardiovascular diseases, digestive system disorders, endocrine imbalances, and infections, while evaluating patients’ overall health with a holistic approach.

The Role of an Internal Medicine Specialist

Internal medicine specialists play a crucial role in early disease detection, treatment management, and long-term health monitoring. Throughout this process, they:

• Evaluate patient symptoms and take a detailed medical history.
• Conduct physical examinations to analyze initial findings.
• Utilize laboratory tests and imaging methods when necessary to support diagnosis.
• Develop personalized treatment plans and monitor disease progression.
• Implement multidisciplinary approaches, including medication therapy, lifestyle modifications, dietary recommendations, and collaboration with other specialties when required.

What Diseases Does Internal Medicine Deal With?

Internal Medicine specialists deal with diseases affecting many different organ systems. The most common conditions are as follows:

• Longevity (Healthy and long life evaluation)
• Blood values (Optimal balancing of vitamin and mineral levels)
• Endocrine diseases (Diabetes, thyroid diseases, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, insulin resistance)
• Obesity, overweight, difficulty losing weight
• Digestive system diseases (Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), chronic constipation, diarrhea attacks, persistent gas and bloating, SIBO, SIFO, recurrent abdominal bloating and pain attacks, fatty liver)
• Respiratory system diseases (COPD, asthma, bronchitis, chronic post-nasal drip, recurrent sinusitis attacks, allergic rhinitis - hay fever)
• Cardiovascular diseases (Hypertension, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, vascular diseases)
• Kidney diseases (Kidney failure, electrolyte imbalances, proteinuria, microalbuminuria)
• Edema (Excess fluid retention in the body)
• Rheumatological diseases (Functional medicine evaluation for chronic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma)
• Hematological diseases (Anemia, iron deficiency anemia, blood diseases)
• Skin diseases (Histamine intolerance, chronic urticaria-hives, angioedema, allergic skin diseases, chronic itching, psoriasis, rosacea, recurrent fungal infections, functional medicine approach for chronic eczema)
• Migraines, recurrent headaches, brain fog, concentration disorders with a functional medicine approach
• Infectious diseases (Viral and bacterial infections)

The Role of Internal Medicine: Comprehensive Health Management and Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Internal Medicine is not only focused on treating diseases but also on improving overall health and providing preventive healthcare services. By adopting a patient-centered approach, it develops personalized treatment plans tailored to an individual's age, lifestyle, and genetic predispositions.

Additionally, Internal Medicine specialists:

• Monitor patients’ health as part of primary care services.
• Collaborate with other medical specialties to contribute to multidisciplinary treatment processes.
• Refer patients to relevant subspecialties when necessary.

Some Internal Medicine specialists focus on specific disease groups and pursue subspecialties such as cardiology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, or rheumatology. These subspecialties provide advanced treatment options targeting specific organ systems.

Internal Medicine plays a fundamental role in preserving adult health and managing diseases. It is crucial in ensuring long-term health management, enabling early diagnosis, and offering personalized treatment plans to maintain overall well-being.