Internal Medicine is concerned with the diagno-sis and non-surgical treatment of disorders of the heart, lungs, the liver and gastro-intestinal tract, the kidneys and urinary tract, the brain, the spinal column, nerves, muscles and joints. Many common diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer can affect several internal organs of the body. Serious diseases can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses and might not show symptoms until the disease has progressed to an advanced stage.