Internal Medicine Specialist
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Firas Zakaria, MD
Board-Certified Internist located in Palos Heights, IL
If you’re an adult and have a cold, need an annual physical, or want help with your diabetes, an internal medicine physician is the right specialist for you. Dr. Firas Zakaria is an internal medicine specialist in Palos Heights, Illinois, who is equipped to manage all aspects of your health care. He’s interested in creating long-term doctor-patient relationships that offer the most effective care available delivered in a patient-friendly and patient-focused environment. Call the office today to make an appointment or use Dr. Zakaria’s convenient online scheduling service.
Internal Medicine Q & A
What is Internal Medicine?
General internal medicine providers like Dr. Zakaria are trained to diagnose and manage the wide variety of illnesses that affect adults. Unlike a specialist who focuses on only one area, such as a cardiologist who treats the heart, Dr. Zakaria is skilled at caring for multiple issues, no matter how simple or complex.
Internal medicine specialists are also experts in disease prevention. To protect your health, Dr. Zakaria promotes healthy lifestyle choices through education and makes recommendations specific to your circumstances.
He also believes strongly in the benefits of routine physical exams and appropriate screening labs, such as cholesterol checks. This helps him correct mild changes that might become major health concerns if left unaddressed.
What Does an Internal Medicine Physician Treat?
Internal medicine specialists don’t provide surgery; they do treat acute illnesses like colds, earaches, or flu bugs, as well as complex conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- High blood pressure
- Elevated cholesterol
- Digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome
With their extensive training and experience, internal medicine providers also offer care for a multitude of other issues, such as:
- Problems with weight gain
- Muscle strains and sprains
- Thyroid disease
- Low back pain
Dr. Zakaria may recommend you see another specialist periodically if you have a history of heart attack, a serious kidney condition, or other significant medical concern requiring focused attention. He continues to monitor your condition between visits to these other specialists and carefully coordinates your care, essentially acting as a health supervisor who understands your unique needs.
What are the Advantages of Seeing an Internal Medicine Physician?
Building a long-term relationship with a primary care provider like Dr. Zakaria helps ensure you get prompt medical attention when you need it rather than waiting weeks or months to see a specialist.
There’s also a significant benefit in seeing a doctor who is familiar with your overall health patterns and can spot subtle changes in your appearance or test results that may indicate an underlying health issue.
Unfortunately, many adults develop several chronic medical conditions over time. For instance, you may have hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. This often requires a delicate balance of medications or other treatment to keep each issue under control. Dr. Zakaria’s training and experience give him the skills to provide comprehensive care for multiple health concerns at once.
