Conditions We Treat
Internal Medicine Doctor in Tucson, AZ
As an Internal Medicine doctor and Clinical Lipidologist, Board-Certified Dr. Robert E. Lending screens for, treats, and helps patients manage and prevent a wide variety of health care issues and medical conditions that can occur during a person’s lifetime.
In addition to providing general health and wellness exams, screenings, and immunizations, Dr. Lending addresses conditions that include:
While aging itself isn’t a medical condition, there are a number of disorders that are more likely to occur as you age. Some of the most common among people age 65 and older include:
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease
- Diabetes
- Hearing impairment
- Heart disease, including hypertension and lipid disorders
- Osteoporosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Respiratory diseases, including pneumonia and bronchitis
- Stroke
- Vision problems such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataracts
At the medical office of Robert E. Lending, MD, we help assess the risk of, prevent, and manage these health concerns.
The two most common types of arthritis are:
- Osteoarthritis – Considered a degenerative joint disease, this type of arthritis is the result of wear and tear over time. Body areas most often affected include the hips, knees, neck, back, and hands.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis – Believed to be the result of an autoimmune disorder (when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks itself), rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the hands and feet, although symptoms may occur in many other areas of the body.
Dr. Lending offers screenings, medications, and other types of therapy for patients with arthritis, such as joint injections that can reduce the inflammation and pain of arthritis.
One of the most common health concerns, issues involving the heart and blood vessels are serious; regular medical care can help prevent complications of cardiovascular disease like heart attacks and strokes.
The most common types of cardiovascular disease include high blood pressure (hypertension), coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure.
At Dr. Lending’s office and/or nearby Testing and Imaging Centers, we utilize a number of diagnostic tools to assess, prevent, and manage your cardiovascular risks, including:
- Cardiac Stress Tests – Measures the heart’s ability to respond to stress in a controlled environment. It is typically done by walking on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle while your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing are monitored. Patients are connected to an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine during the test.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) – Measures the electrical activity of the heart. Electrodes are painlessly attached with a gel to the chest, arms, and legs. Patients are either asked to lie still on a table during the test, or in the case of a cardiac stress test, to exercise on a treadmill or stationary bike. Heart activity is recorded and graphed for a doctor to interpret.
- Holter Monitor – Essentially a portable EKG that you wear, this device continuously records the electrical activity of your heart for a one or two-day period while you go about your daily activities. It is used to identify abnormal heart functioning such as cardiac arrhythmia, palpitations, or insufficient blood flow to your heart.
- Echocardiogram (echo) – Uses ultrasound to evaluate the heart’s structure, function, and blood flow. It is performed to check for heart disease and heart murmurs, as well as to assess heart function for those who have had a heart attack.
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) levels are too high. Glucose is needed to fuel your body's cells, but too much can seriously damage the nerves, kidneys, heart, eyes, feet, and more.
There are two main types of diabetes, and they differ by how glucose levels become elevated.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and your body is no longer able to produce insulin.
In the most common form of diabetes, type 2 diabetes, your body either does not make enough insulin to regulate your blood glucose or does not properly respond to insulin. It is considered a metabolic disorder.
Type 2 diabetes develops slowly, and many people are unaware they have the disease. When symptoms do start to occur, they may include increased thirst and urination; increase in appetite; blurry vision; extreme fatigue; slow-healing wounds and frequent infections; tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands and feet. If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to be checked by a doctor.
At the medical offices of Robert E. Lending, MD, we screen, counsel, and help patients manage diabetes.
Lipids are fats in the blood, such as cholesterol and triglycerides. "Lipid disorder" is typically used to describe high levels of these particular substances.
The type of cholesterol involved is LDL (low-density lipoprotein), which is often referred to as the "bad cholesterol” because it can build up in the arteries, block blood flow, and cause a heart attack or stroke.
There are many different ways to manage or treat lipid disorders. As a Board-Certified Clinical Lipidologist, Dr. Robert E. Lending specializes in treating high cholesterol through medications, counseling for lifestyle changes (healthier diet and more exercise), and more.
Metabolic evaluations, typically in the form a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) blood test, can detect cholesterol or triglyceride imbalances. It can also identify anemia and iron deficiency, hepatitis, and decreased liver and kidney function. Depending on what is discovered, there are any number of self-care, prescription, and other therapies that can treat your condition.
Dr. Lending accepts referrals for patients needing expert care for a lipid disorder. This medical service is separate from his concierge practice.
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Gallstones
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Stroke
These noninvasive tests evaluate how well the lungs are working by measuring lung volume, capacity, rate of air flow, and gas exchange. For example, a spirometry breathing test measures the amount and speed of air that can be inhaled and exhaled. It is used to diagnose asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and more.
In addition, Dr. Lending offers all of the most common screenings and more, such as screenings for prostate cancer, thyroid disorders, and numerous other conditions.
Contact Our Concierge Physician Today!
If you’ve been seeking an Internal Medicine physician you can trust to oversee your health, contact us to find out how our concierge medicine program can benefit you. Call the Tucson primary care office of Robert E. Lending, MD, at (520) 795-4291 or use our convenient appointment request form.