Opioids are powerful pain killers that can be highly addictive and dangerous. Opioids include illicit drugs such as heroin and carfentanil as well as prescription medications used to treat pain such as Vicodin, morphine, codeine, oxycodone, hydrocodone, and fentanyl.
Whether the opioid is prescribed by a doctor or acquired illegally, these drugs can cause serious changes to the brain and body.
Certain medical conditions require constant attention. Lifestyle and heredity often determine the quality of your health. It often becomes necessary to deal with the changes and challenges of your body over time.
That’s where an Internist can help. According to the American College of Physicians, Internal Medicine combines the analytical examination of laboratory science with a personalized, compassionate approach to adult medicine.
This expertise enables doctors to treat both common illnesses and complex medical conditions as you age. They also specialize in treating long-term chronic illnesses such as Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Internists take a close look at how all the systems in the body work together as a whole because a problem in one area could cause complications in another.
Here are just some common conditions treated by Internists, including those at Johnson Memorial Health:
You have decided to schedule an appointment with an Internal Medicine physician – also known as an Internist. Understandably, you might have two questions:
What type of care does an Internist provide?
And what type of training is required to practice Internal Medicine?
Internists are considered primary care physicians, but they focus on long-term care of adults. They provide a broad range of care for their patients. According to the American College of Physicians, Internists diagnose and treat lots of different conditions – including cancer, infections and diseases affecting the heart, blood, kidneys, joints and digestive, respiratory and vascular systems.
The specialty of care by most doctors seems clear.
Pediatricians take care of children. Oncologists focus on cancer diagnosis and treatment. Surgeons… well, you get the picture.
When it comes to Internal Medicine and Family Care physicians, the titles can be a little confusing. When you are not feeling well or need to see a primary care doctor, you may not know which to call for an appointment.
The basic distinction, according to the American College of Physicians, comes down to two factors:
1. The ages of patients being seen.If you make an appointment with a Family Care physician, you are likely to see babies, young adults and senior citizens in the waiting room. At an Internal Medicine office, you will find adults with specific healthcare needs waiting to be called back by the nurse.
With more than 258,000 lives being lost per year, Sepsis ranks as the third leading cause of death in the U.S. (after heart disease and cancer).
More than 1.6 million cases of sepsis every year and survivors often face long-term effects post-sepsis, including amputations, anxiety, memory loss, chronic pain and fatigue, and more. Almost 60 percent of sepsis survivors experience worsened cognitive (mental) and/or physical function.
Here are answers to the 5 most common questions about the condition, as provided by the public awareness group Sepsis Alliance:
Topics: Sepsis
As a parent, one of your top priorities is keeping your children safe. And yet, reality is that you can't protect them from every potential injury, especially if they are involved in athletics. Injuries are all too common among high school athletes lower back pain from playing football or a twisted ankle from a misstep in track.
But there are some things that you can do to help prevent these injuries. Here are a few ways to keep your high school athlete injury free.
Topics: Sports
Have an upcoming run on your calendar or trying to fit into your schedule more regularly? Planning ahead of time can not only help you commit to a new habit or training program but will also help reduce surprises that may otherwise break up your plans.
Topics: Sports
Football, soccer, running, even swimming -- you might have noticed the often colorful tape on athletes arms and legs. It’s not spirit wear, in fact Kinesio tape is used to treat a variety of sports-related injuries, among other things.
Topics: Sports, Orthopedic
If you are experiencing unbearable knee, shoulder or hip pain and physical therapy and medicines are no longer helping, not all is lost. There are options to help!
More than 1 million joint replacements are performed in the United States each year. Whether its full or partial replacement, the surgical procedure involves removing a damaged joint and inserting a prosthetic one.
Topics: Orthopedic, Sports Medicine
Who wouldn’t like to spend more time outside? Whether you want to soak up more sunshine and relaxation or meet a new healthy challenge, it’s important to be familiar with common exercise injuries to prevent harm.
Topics: Sports
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