Internal medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with treating the whole patient. An internal medicine physician, also called an internist, can treat many illnesses and conditions, and is skilled in treating a patient who has several illnesses or disorders at the same time. This internist, who can be a primary care physician, emphasizes disease prevention and wellness, but can treat problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs, along with mental health or substance abuse issues.

The internal medicine physician can also treat cancer or diseases of the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, and digestive, respiratory and vascular systems, while concentrating on the wellness of the patient as a whole.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Emphysema, Broncho-Esophagology, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Osteoarthritis , Hyper / Hypoglycemia, cystic fibrosis, Diabetes, Asthma, pectus excavatum, osteoporosis, Macular Degeneration, cancer, infection, Autism, Congestive heart failure, Herpes, Hypertension, Heart Attack, and Anemia.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Lithotripsy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP, dialysis, angioplasty, mechanical ventilation, endoscopy, cardioversion, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cardiac ablation, and intra-aortic balloon pump.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including FAA-Flight Physicial, physicial / check up, Bone density test, dialysis, physicial examination, Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, x-ray, biopsy, Blood Test, Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Upper GI (Barium Swallow), electrolyte test, Lower GI (Barium Enema), stool test, pH probe test, and microbiological culture.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Alabama has 1,333 practicing internal medicine doctors. Broken out by city, internal medicine doctor density in Adamsville is 1, in Alabaster is 20, in Albertville is 10, in Alexander City is 2, in Andalusia is 5, in Anniston is 25, in Arab is 2, in Ashville is 1, in Athens is 6, in Atmore is 2, in Auburn is 6, in Bay Minette is 3, in Bayou La Batre is 3, in Bessemer is 20, in Birmingham is 453, in Boaz is 5, in Brewton is 2, in Brundidge is 1, in Calera is 5, in Carbon Hill is 2, in Centre is 6, in Centreville is 2, in Childersburg is 2, in Citronelle is 1, in Clanton is 8, in Columbiana is 1, in Cullman is 22, in Dadeville is 2, in Daphne is 9, in Decatur is 31, in Dothan is 34, in Enterprise is 14, in Eufaula is 5, in Fairfield is 6, in Fairhope is 12, in Fayette is 1, in Florala is 1, in Florence is 31, in Foley is 8, in Fort Payne is 6, in Fultondale is 4, in Gadsden is 25, in Gardendale is 7, in Georgiana is 2, in Greenville is 5, in Gulf Shores is 3, in Guntersville is 6, in Haleyville is 4, in Hamilton is 2, in Hartselle is 4, in Heflin is 4, in Homewood is 2, in Hoover is 11, in Huntsville is 91, in Irondale is 2, in Jackson is 3, in Jacksonville is 6, in Jasper is 26, in Lanett is 1, in Leeds is 4, in Luverne is 4, in Madison is 16, in Millbrook is 2, in Mobile is 147, in Monroeville is 5, in Montevallo is 1, in Montgomery is 107, in Moody is 1, in Mountain Brook is 2, in Muscle Shoals is 13, in Northport is 4, in Oneonta is 6, in Opelika is 17, in Orange Beach is 1, in Oxford is 8, in Ozark is 7, in Pelham is 4, in Pell City is 4, in Phenix City is 2, in Prattville is 10, in Prichard is 3, in Rainbow City is 3, in Robertsdale is 1, in Russellville is 4, in Saraland is 2, in Scottsboro is 15, in Selma is 12, in Sheffield is 6, in Spanish Fort is 2, in Sylacauga is 14, in Talladega is 10, in Tallassee is 2, in Thomasville is 2, in Troy is 5, in Tuscaloosa is 55, in Tuscumbia is 3, in Tuskegee is 6, in Valley is 5, in Wetumpka is 6, and in Winfield is 4.

Montgomery is the capital city of this southern state, though Birmingham is its largest city. Population in 2005 was 4,557,808. Alabama is the birthplace of historical figures Hank Aaron, Helen Keller, and George Washington Carver. Take an airboat tour on the Mobile river delta, see the Alabama Civil Rights museum in Mantua, or tour the Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. Visit the Shakespeare Festival Theater Complex in Montgomery, or play a round of golf at one of Alabama’s many acclaimed courses. From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the state’s north to the Gulf coast beaches in the south, Alabama’s scenery includes a varied and diverse landscape.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Alabama has a population of 4,557,808. Of this population, 1,074,627 are under the age of 18 and 600,258 are at or above the age of 65.