Internal Medicine

What is internal medicine?

Internal medicine is a medical specialty that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the internal organs. An Internist manages both common and complex illnesses, acute and chronic, through comprehensive evaluation. Patients with multiple medical problems and medications are often seen by an Internist. Internists have training in diseases affecting the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, and the digestive, respiratory and vascular systems, as well as cancers and infections.

What are acute illnesses?

Acute illnesses usually develop quickly and last a short amount of time (only a few days or weeks). Examples of acute diseases include:

Asthma attacks
Bronchitis
Burns
The common cold
The flu
Lacerations
Pneumonia
Strep throat
Respiratory infections

These conditions generally come on rapidly. In some cases, as with the common cold, symptoms will improve on their own. The recovery time is generally fast. Self-management can go a long way toward preventing acute diseases from occurring, but if they are unavoidable and severe, seek medical attention as quickly as possible.

What are chronic illnesses?

Chronic diseases, on the other hand, develop slowly but will get worse over an extended period of time (months to years). Examples of chronic diseases include:

Alzheimer’s
Depression
Arthritis
Diabetes
Kidney disease
High blood pressure
Heart disease
High cholesterol
Osteoporosis
Obesity

These conditions take more time to develop than acute conditions and may progress over time. Certain chronic diseases have warning signs while others have none. Unfortunately, chronic health conditions can only be controlled, not cured. Managing symptoms usually requires a health care plan and regular visits to the doctor. Your healthcare provider can provide you with medication, healthy eating advice, occupational and/or physical therapy referral or other ancillary services as appropriate. In order to ward off certain chronic conditions, we recommend implementing healthy lifestyle habits. Staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, eating right, limiting sun exposure and refraining from drugs and excessive alcohol use are all extremely beneficial.

Schedule your appointment in central Alaska

For all of your internal medicine needs, schedule an appointment with Dr. Nick Sarrimanolis. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, we are the area’s go-to medical practice for all things internal medicine. If you think you may be suffering from any of the acute or chronic illnesses listed above, please call us at (907) 451-1174 right away. You can also request an appointment online using the form on our site.

*Individual results may vary; not a guarantee.