Health doesn’t remain the same in old age. It usually changes as the organs’ functionality decreases over time. That’s why it is said that seniors must understand the basics of maintaining healthy and sound health. Many people ask why they take care of their health. Well, they must do to live a life with optimal health and independence, without treatments.

Nonetheless, as we age and get added to the list of “seniors”, the doctors’ requirements change too. Initially, we don’t need most of the subspecialty internal medicine doctors. What we need is a primary care physician or a general practitioner.

To raise awareness of internal med subspecialties, we have explained how these doctors help seniors and how they can choose the best specialist for themselves.

Why Seniors Need Internal Medicine Subspecialty

Unfortunately, at 60+, the human body doesn’t heal right after any incident or disease. It is sad for us to mention that aging is not just about the number of years you have lived; it is far beyond that! For example, the bones and muscles you were once proud of actually become weaker. The immune system slows down. And many times, the seniors live with more than one chronic condition simultaneously. All of it makes life and health risky and complicated.

At this time, when the individual needs medical care, some specialized doctors take charge. However, if you don’t know who they are and what they do, don’t worry. We have mentioned them in detail.

What kind of services do internal medicine subspecialty doctors provide to senior patients?

First of all, please know that these doctors are experts and experienced in a single organ in adults. Since they know how different organs work, it is easy for them to understand the complications associated with different diseases. How organs function and interact with other systems is also clear to subspecialty internal medicine doctors.

Seniors benefit from the internal med subspecialties doctor for the following reasons;

• They focus on the problem of serious health conditions.

• These doctors manage and handle the most complex medication scenarios.

• Also, doctors for seniors help them reduce hospital visits.

• What else? Well, they offer long-term disease management.

• Last but not least, they all work closely with the primary care doctors.

Remember, when you have access to the right subspecialties of internal medicine, the chances of living a better health with greater outcomes increase.

Internal med subspecialties & Support for Seniors’ Health

As mentioned above, there are several organs in the body, and a different subspecialty in internal medicine treats each. It clearly means you must have access to the following specialists:

Specialist #1: Cardiology

This internal medicine specialty is linked to the heart. Diseases like hypertension, aka high blood pressure, chest pain, irregular heartbeat (palpitation), heart failure, and blocked arteries are taken care of by cardiologists. Seniors who are above 60 may need to consult with a cardiologist after a heart attack or stroke. Once these patients go to the specialist, a diagnosis is carried out with the help of an EKG, stress test, and X-ray. However, with the right kind of care, cardiologists help in reducing the serious condition of the heart.

Specialist #2: Endocrinology

Seniors need to get everything on the spot to maintain a healthy lifestyle and lower the dependency factor. To do so, they should get themselves checked with a subspecialty internal medicine doctor who has studied hormones and diabetes as their field of expertise. These specialists also look after thyroid issues, which may happen over the course of time. However, when it comes to diabetes, seniors tend to complain about vision problems. Some seniors develop damaged nerves and kidney-associated diseases. That’s why endocrinologists try to manage blood sugar levels and adjust medications for the best health. In addition, osteoporosis and other hormonal imbalances that occur because of age concerns are treated by these doctors.

Specialist #3: Pulmonology

One of the other subspecialties in internal medicine is pulmonology, in which the specialist works around lung health. If you ask what exactly is covered by pomologists, then you should know it includes COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), along with sleep apnea, asthma, and other age-related medical conditions. These specialists assist the patients with multiple breathing exercises, prescribe inhalers, suggest oxygen therapy, and provide other ways to make peace with their sleep and breath-related health issues. However, pulmonologists monitor the overall health of the patient without the discomfort of visiting hospitals. So, what they do is based on the online applications that work in favor of your lung’s health.

Specialist #4: Nephrology

Seniors tend to develop problems with the kidneys. That’s the reason why this internal medicine subspecialty treats the most chronic diseases related to this particular organ. What they do is simple. Nephrologists monitor and evaluate the fluid balance, electrolyte levels, and blood pressure. To ensure your kidneys are functioning properly and their dynamics aren’t decreased with time, you must get yourself checked with these specialists. They would suggest a preventive measure if the kidney is not compromised and help in strengthening its functionality. Nephrologists do everything in their power to help seniors avoid going through the process of dialysis.

Specialist #5: Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology is another subspecialty of internal medicine, and it is all about digestive concerns of the human body. If you are unsure about the types of problems that may take place in senior age due to digestive dysfunction, please know that it may be anything like constipation, acid reflux, colon disorders, and liver disease. These internal medicine subspecialty doctors diagnose and then treat the concerns with the help of colonoscopy, endoscopy, lab work, medications, a change in diet, and other minimal aggressive procedures.

Note: With the help of all these internal med subspecialties, seniors receive focused expert care.

How to Choose the Right Subspecialty Internal Medicine Doctor

To find the best internist with the subspecialty traits and degree, you must carry out some basic research. Also, to get the best one around, there are other ways to look for the best subspecialty in internal medicine. For example;

Way #1: Know What You Need the Subspecialist For

Know what you need the subspecialist for. It means you should identify the problem along with the symptoms to make the visit more meaningful. Also, it is best to know that internal med subspecialties are there to take you out of the complicated health conditions.

Way #2: Get Referrals

Another way to find the best subspecialist is by requesting a recommendation from your primary care physician. Your internist also plays an important role in referring you to the experienced specialists.

Way #3: Location of the Specialist

Furthermore, look for the specialist within your physical reach (neighborhood or locality). For example, if you live in Rancho Mirage or Coachella, opting for Dr. Azam of Indus Medical Associates would work out best for your needs.

Way #4: Evaluate the Way of Communication

Select the doctor who actually pays attention to your questions and communicates openly. Remember, good communication solves a lot of problems, and through it, you get the optimal results. With someone you can’t open up to or have language barrier, the doctor may not understand and

Way #5: Patients’ Feedback about the Specialist

It is very wrong if you don’t check the online feedback of the specialist and consult with him without knowing his experience. This simply means that the specialist you see must have basic manners along with the expertise and satisfied feedback from the patients.

Frequently Asked Content

Question 1: Which internal med subspecialties are best for senior patients with chronic diseases?

Answer: For seniors’ chronic diseases, mostly cardiologists, endocrinologists, nephrologists, pulmonologists, and rheumatologists are needed. The main role of these subspecialists is to focus on the treatment of prolonged health concerns.

Question 2: How often should a 60+ individual consult with a subspecialist?

Answer: As soon as a new symptom appears, the pain increases, medication starts to show side effects, or the overall situation becomes unmanageable, you, as a 60+ individual, must consult with the subspecialists in internal medicine.

Question 3: How are the specialties of primary care different from the subspecialties of internal medicine?

Answer: Primary care physicians manage and look after the overall health of individuals. However, in internal medicine, the focus is on specific organs or body systems. Subspecialists provide their expertise in chronic diseases.

Question 4: Do seniors require more than one subspecialty in internal medicine?

Answer: Yes, they do need more than one specialist based on the number of chronic diseases they have. For example, a senior patient may have diabetes along with heart disease. In such a situation, he will need both an endocrinologist and a cardiologist. However, in such situations, subspecialists coordinate to achieve the best results.