The human body is an intricate and complex structure made up of around 11 different systems, which can be described as a biological machine. The structures and systems that make up the human body all work with interactive unison to sustain life.
Of course, as with all machines, things can go wrong. When a machine fails to operate correctly it is necessary for the problem to be pinpointed, and then a repair to be carried out. In that respect, the human body is no different from any other machine. When something goes wrong, diagnostics and treatment must be sought from skilled physicians.
Medical science has progressed immeasurably over the centuries and continues to do so. Medicine is a vast area of science and is broken up into distinctively individual and specific clinical disciplines. One the largest and most complex areas being that of internal medicine.
Internal medicine gained status as an individualized, specialized field of medicine in the 19th century and was built upon the progressing knowledge of physiology, pathology, and bacteriology. The universal recognition of internal medicine is largely due to the efforts of William Osler and John Punnett Peters.
Medical practitioners specializing in internal medicine are often referred to as Internists, or general internists. These highly skilled doctors specialize in both acute and chronic diseases, and preventative care and general health promotion. Although internists are primarily concerned with adult health issues, their medical disciplines do overlap with pediatrics.
When requiring internal medical diagnostics and treatment, it is vital to ensure that the attendant medical practitioners have the knowledge and expertise to conduct, what are often, complex medical procedures. Thankfully, in Bangkok there is a dedicated internal medicine clinic with an assembled team of world class specialist physicians, that being, Samitivej Hospital’s Internal Medicine Clinic.
Internal Medicine Approach to Diagnostics
The internists at the Internal Medicine, Bangkok are internationally trained in diagnosing and treating all internal medical conditions. These are often very complex issues, including those which are multi-faceted chronic diseases. These may include gastrointestinal health problems, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatology, diabetes, age-related illnesses, lung, and infectious diseases, among many others.
None of the body’s internal systems operate unilaterally, they are not single entities immune to the maladies of other neighboring systems. The clinic’s skilled physicians are fully aware of the complex connectivity of the body’s internal functions, thus, will often take a holistic approach to their diagnostics and treatment.
Just as the body’s internal systems rely on multilateral functionality, the Internal Medicine Clinic’s medical teams take the same approach. Individual specialists, such as cardiologists, obstetricians, and gynecologists, hepatologists, nephrologists along with pulmonologists and gastroenterologists, among others, take a collaborative approach to diagnostics.
Diagnosis begins by gaining information directly from the patient. The clinic’s doctors will ascertain from the patient the known symptoms, their onset, frequency, and severity, along with any other mitigating factors. The patient’s medical history will be studied so the doctors can familiarize themselves with any previous health issues, family history, medications, and allergies.
Following this, a visual examination will be conducted to identify any outward signals of a health issue. These signs might include swellings, rashes. Following this, a more physical examination will be carried out. The doctor will use a stethoscope and listen for any unwelcome sounds emanating from the heart or lung sounds. Medically this is known as auscultation.
Touch to feel is extremely informative to the skilled medical team. The doctors will be investigating any bodily tenderness, swelling, or other abnormalities. Doctors call it palpation. Percussion is another action useful in internal diagnostics. Strategic tapping of the body can indicate the unusual, and unwanted, presence of irregular hardening of organs, along with an excess of air or fluids.
These examinations will often be followed by blood and urine tests. Blood samples will be examined in the clinic’s dedicated laboratory to identify any shortfall, or failure, of organ functions, any infections, inflammation, or genetic disorders. Examining urine samples can expose the presence of infections, kidney problems, and diabetes.
Often, X-rays will be necessary. They provide doctors with images of the body’s bones and some of its soft tissues. An MRI scan may also be undertaken which allows the doctors to see images of the body’s organs, soft tissues, including the spinal cord and the brain. CT scanning gives the doctors a cross-sectional view of the patient’s body and aids in the detection of many abnormalities, including broken bones and tumors.
In some cases, specialized tests may be required to assist in accurate diagnosis. These may include an ECG or electrocardiogram that helps doctors assess a patient’s heart health. An endoscopy might be employed to examine a patient’s digestive tract. Additionally, neurological tests will help assess any abnormalities in the individual’s brain function.
The clinic’s collaborative approach to the diagnostic procedure helps to ensure that internal health issues can be accurately pinpointed. Only with optimum levels of diagnostics can effective treatment plans be drawn up to ensure the best results from any further medical procedure.
Internal Medical Treatments
There are a multitude of treatments that the clinic’s collaborative medical teams might undertake to correct internal medical health issues. These may include physical therapy, medication, surgery, and holistic approaches to healing.
The Internal Medicine Clinic are well versed, and highly skilled, in many surgical procedures, common procedures include, appendectomies, cholecystectomies, heart artery bypass procedures, hysterectomies and organ transplants. These, and many other, surgical procedures are conducted by the clinic’s internationally trained, world class surgeons and support staff in the clinic’s modern, hi-tech surgical suites.
Surgery might be of the open surgery type. This is where a large incision is made to gain internal access to the body’s large organs. Alternatively, laparoscopic surgery may be employed. This form of surgery entails small incisions, usually three, and a laparoscope giving the surgeon a visual image of the body’s interior and, with very small surgical instruments, perform delicate surgical procedures.
Furthermore, with cutting edge technology, robotic Surgery is being utilized more and more. With this form of surgery, robotic arms and instruments are guided by the surgeon. Employing this form of surgery allows for the ultimate in precision whilst also minimalizing the invasive nature of surgery.
With any internal medical issues, only the best treatment should be sought. The Internal Medicine Clinic in Bangkok, is not only equal to the best medical service in the world, but the facility surpasses others and continues to raise the bar to a level others aspire to.
