If you are suffering from an illness or medical condition, it is important to see the right type of medical doctor who can treat your specific needs. Internal medicine specialists (or “internists”) offer long-term chronic care and treatments to patients suffering from heart disease, diabetes or other chronic conditions.

Have you been experiencing certain symptoms lately and are wondering whether you should schedule an appointment with an internist? To help you decide, these internal medicine specialists in Northwest Indiana are going to explain the top three signs that it’s time to schedule a visit.

If you suffer from high cholesterol and high blood pressure

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, or other conditions that may be related to chronic health problems like diabetes or heart disease, it is worth making the trip to see an internal medicine specialist.

Some people can tolerate a few high blood pressure readings here and there, but if it is severe enough for long periods, it can lead to serious consequences. Similarly, hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) is also bad for your heart health. Although many patients see their doctor about this issue in their 20s and 30s, cholesterol does not always level out as you age and could significantly increase the risk of heart disease if not correctly managed.

It is important to have regular checkups with your general practitioner to monitor your progress, but you might want a specialist’s opinion on how best to manage things when they get out of hand.

For pain management

An internal medicine specialist in Northwest Indiana can help you manage your pain in many ways. One way is prescribing a medication that would reduce your symptoms and inflammation and decrease the pain level you experience. An internal medicine specialist also can perform trigger point injections to help alleviate your pain.

Another way they may be able to help you with pain management is by referring you to someone who could provide treatments like physical therapy or another form of therapy. They also will be able to tell you what medications would work best for you and give you advice on how to manage stress. Stress can contribute to a flare-up.

To diagnose asthma, diabetes and COPD

Internal medicine specialists have more training in the respiratory system than a family physician or general practitioner. For example, they can diagnose asthma, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) — whereas other physicians may not have the same level of knowledge.

In some cases, seeing an internal medicine specialist is preferable even when the symptoms could potentially be less severe than those diagnosed by a family physician or general practitioner. In these instances, symptoms might be more complex and need closer monitoring. An internist also has more experience treating patients with heart disease, which can contribute to worsening respiratory problems, such as asthma.

Final thoughts

If you suffer from persistent or chronic health issues that don’t seem to be improving with your current treatment, it may be time to reach out to an internal medicine specialist in Northwest Indiana. Not only will they be able to help diagnose and treat your medical conditions, but they also will serve as your overall healthcare team — helping to ensure you are taking care of your mental and physical well-being to avoid major health complications in the future. 

Looking for an affordable internal medicine specialist in Northwest Indiana?

Are you ready to visit an internist for an evaluation? If so, and if you’re looking for an affordable internal medicine specialist in Northwest Indiana, you’ve come to the right place — 219 Health Network is here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed specialists.