General internists, like ours here at Eastway Medical Clinic, can diagnose and treat a number of various diseases and other conditions such as acute respiratory infections, asthma, cardiovascular disease, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, hypertension, hypothyroidism, menopause, osteoarthritis, pneumonia, and others. If you have or believe you could have any of these conditions, then you should see an internist. You can also take older family members to see an internist. An internist can also provide preventative care, which is a kind of care focused on preventing health conditions in the first place (for example, with cancer screenings, mammograms, etc.). Also, if a patient already has a condition and requires the expertise of a specialist, the internist can provide a referral. One of the best things about seeing a general internist is that he or she can create and be at the center of a network between multiple doctors and specialists, which provides the most comprehensive kind of healthcare possible!