Internal medicine

If your symptoms are of unclear origin and you are unsure which specialist to see, a specialist in internal medicine is a good first port of call.
Internal medicine overlaps with more medical specialties than any other field, in terms of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation alike.

An important part of the internal medicine examination is a detailed conversation about your current symptoms, previously diagnosed conditions, any medication you take occasionally or regularly, your lifestyle and any illnesses that run in your family. Please be sure to bring any previous specialist reports, test results and hospital discharge summaries with you to the consultation.

This is followed by a physical examination, during which the specialist checks the colour of your skin and visible mucous membranes and palpates the thyroid gland and lymph nodes. They then measure your blood pressure and pulse and listen to your heart and lungs. Finally, the abdominal organs (primarily the liver and spleen, and any hernia) are examined by palpation and the abdomen is checked for tenderness.

Based on the information gathered, the specialist may order further tests to establish an accurate diagnosis or recommend a consultation with another specialist.