October’s health observances cover many concerns that bring adults to an internal medicine practice: cancer prevention, liver disease, breathing problems, mental health, menopause, osteoporosis and cardiovascular risk. Together, they offer an opportunity to consider how different aspects of health overlap – and which symptoms, screenings or follow-up appointments deserve attention.
At Alpharetta & Cumming Internal Medicine, preventive care and chronic disease management are part of the practice’s adult primary care services. Its website lists physical examinations, women’s and men’s health, in-house laboratory testing, immunizations, diabetes care, gastrointestinal care, hypertension management and several diagnostic procedures.
The following guide explores October health themes relevant to adult internal medicine, with connections to services the practice identifies on its website.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Screening Before Symptoms Appear
Breast cancer screening looks for disease before symptoms develop. Mammograms can detect breast cancer early, sometimes before it can be felt or has spread. Feeling well, having no breast pain or having no known family history does not eliminate the need to discuss screening.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening mammography every two years for women ages 40 through 74. Patients with a previous breast cancer diagnosis, certain genetic mutations or other high-risk histories may need a different plan. Recommendations also differ among professional organizations, so screening frequency should reflect the guideline being followed and the patient’s individual circumstances.
An abnormal mammogram requires appropriate follow-up; screening is only the beginning of the process. Likewise, a new breast change needs evaluation rather than waiting until the next scheduled screening.
AIM’s women’s health services specifically include breast health, and its website lists cancer screening services. These office visits provide an opportunity to discuss screening needs and breast concerns. The website does not establish that mammography is performed on-site.
Liver Awareness and Liver Cancer Awareness Months: Disease Can Develop Quietly
October recognizes both liver health and liver cancer awareness. Liver disease deserves attention because some conditions can progress with few or no symptoms.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, or MASLD, is the current term for a condition previously called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It involves fat accumulation in the liver and is associated with metabolic factors such as type 2 diabetes and elevated blood glucose. Evaluation may involve medical history, examination, blood tests and imaging.
Some patients develop inflammation and scarring. Advanced scarring, called cirrhosis, increases the risk of liver cancer. Patients with cirrhosis may need liver cancer surveillance approximately every six months, using imaging and sometimes blood tests according to their clinician’s recommendations.
AIM offers FibroScan® among its services. FibroScan is a noninvasive examination that measures liver stiffness and estimates fat content, helping clinicians evaluate and monitor liver health. It is not a stand-alone liver cancer screening test.
The practice also offers gastrointestinal care and laboratory services, which can support evaluation when liver concerns arise.
Healthy Lung Month: Persistent Breathing Symptoms Need Evaluation
Healthy Lung Month highlights the importance of recognizing respiratory symptoms and reducing harmful exposures.
A cough lasting eight weeks or longer is considered chronic in adults. Persistent wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood or ongoing chest discomfort also warrant medical attention. These symptoms can have different causes, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and conditions outside the lungs.
AIM’s specialty services page lists care for asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Patients experiencing persistent cough or changes in breathing can discuss these concerns during an office visit, with further testing or referral determined by the clinical findings.
Depression and Mental Health Screening: Symptoms Can Be Physical, Too
October includes Depression and Mental Health Screening Month, Mental Illness Awareness Week and World Mental Health Day on October 10. These observances emphasize recognizing symptoms and improving access to care.
Depression can affect mood, interest in daily activities, sleep, appetite, energy and concentration. Major depression involves symptoms that persist for at least two weeks and interfere with functioning. A screening questionnaire can identify concerns, but diagnosis requires a clinical assessment.
Mental health symptoms can overlap with medical illnesses, medication effects and changes in sleep or daily routines. A thoughtful assessment considers the whole picture rather than assuming that fatigue or difficulty concentrating has a single cause.
AIM’s primary care information encourages patients to discuss depression and anxiety during preventive visits, and its women’s health page includes stress management. The website supports discussing these concerns in primary care; it does not identify an on-site psychotherapy program.
ADHD Awareness Month: Attention Difficulties Can Continue Into Adulthood
October is also ADHD Awareness Month. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder can continue into adulthood and affect organization, task completion, attention and impulse control. Adult diagnosis requires more than identifying occasional distractibility; clinicians consider symptoms, their history and their effects across daily life.
Because sleep problems, depression and other conditions can also affect concentration, persistent attention difficulties deserve an appropriate assessment. AIM’s website does not identify a dedicated adult ADHD service, so specialized evaluation or treatment availability should be confirmed with the practice.
World Menopause Day: Looking Beyond Hot Flashes
World Menopause Day is observed on October 18. Menopause marks the point when a woman has gone 12 months without a menstrual period, when another cause does not explain the absence. The transition leading up to menopause can involve changes in menstrual patterns, hot flashes, sleep and vaginal comfort.
Midlife care also provides an opportunity to reassess bone health, blood pressure and other ongoing health needs. Treatment for menopausal symptoms may include hormonal or nonhormonal options, selected according to symptoms, medical history and individual risks.
AIM explicitly includes menopause in its women’s health services, alongside osteoporosis and high blood pressure care. Patients can use these visits to discuss symptoms and how they intersect with broader preventive health needs.
World Arthritis Day: Understanding the Cause of Joint Pain
World Arthritis Day, observed October 12, raises awareness of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
“Arthritis” describes multiple conditions. Osteoarthritis is the most common type, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy joint tissue. Pain, swelling, warmth and reduced movement can occur with different forms of arthritis, making the pattern of symptoms important to diagnosis.
Persistent joint symptoms should be evaluated rather than automatically attributed to aging. Treatment depends on the cause and may involve exercise, medication, rehabilitation or specialist care.
AIM lists joint-pain and rheumatology care, and its specialty procedures page identifies knee injections among its services. The appropriate approach depends on the diagnosis and examination findings.
World Osteoporosis Day: Finding Bone Loss Before a Fracture
World Osteoporosis Day takes place October 20. Osteoporosis screening aims to identify weakened bones and fracture risk before an injury occurs.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening women age 65 and older, as well as postmenopausal women younger than 65 who are at increased risk based on clinical assessment. These recommendations do not mean every adult needs a bone-density scan at the same age.
AIM lists DEXA bone-density scans among its diagnostic services and osteoporosis among the conditions addressed through women’s health care. These services can support assessment and treatment planning for eligible patients.
World Thrombosis Day: Recognizing Dangerous Blood Clots
World Thrombosis Day is observed October 13. Venous thromboembolism includes deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, and pulmonary embolism, or PE. A DVT forms in a deep vein; a pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot travels to the lungs.
Symptoms of DVT can include swelling, pain, warmth or discoloration in the affected limb. A pulmonary embolism can cause difficulty breathing, chest pain, a rapid heartbeat or coughing up blood. Suspected pulmonary embolism requires immediate medical attention.
AIM lists a Coumadin clinic, which relates to monitoring warfarin anticoagulation for patients prescribed this medication. Anticoagulants require individualized management; patients should not change doses without guidance. The availability of routine anticoagulation care does not replace emergency evaluation for a suspected clot.
World Stroke Day: Prevention and Emergency Recognition
World Stroke Day, October 29, highlights both prevention and the need to recognize symptoms immediately.
Sudden weakness or numbness, especially on one side of the body; trouble speaking; new vision changes; loss of balance; or a sudden severe headache can indicate a stroke. Call 911 immediately. Symptoms that resolve can still signal a transient ischemic attack and require urgent evaluation.
AIM’s services include hypertension management, cholesterol maintenance, diabetes care and cardiac care – areas relevant to long-term cardiovascular risk management. Its website also lists echocardiography, Holter monitoring, stress testing and carotid ultrasound imaging.
These tests serve different purposes and should be selected for a clinical reason. Carotid ultrasound, for example, is not recommended by the USPSTF as routine screening for adults without related symptoms. Having access to testing supports care when indicated; it does not mean every patient benefits from every test.
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month: Understanding Diagnostic Testing
October is Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month, recognizing the role of sonography and the professionals who perform these examinations.
AIM lists echocardiography and carotid ultrasound imaging, as well as FibroScan liver assessment. These examinations address different clinical questions. Patients can ask what a recommended test evaluates, how the findings may change treatment and whether further follow-up will be needed.
Health Literacy Month: Making Medical Information Usable
Health Literacy Month focuses on helping people find, understand and use health information. Clear communication is also a responsibility of healthcare organizations and professionals.
A productive appointment should leave patients understanding what was found, what they need to do next and when to follow up. Bringing an updated medication list – including supplements and over-the-counter products – and noting symptoms or questions beforehand can support that conversation.
AIM’s primary care guidance encourages medication review, discussion of health changes and clarification of treatment instructions and follow-up plans.
Infection Prevention and Fall Vaccination
October includes International Infection Prevention Week and is an important time for seasonal influenza vaccination. The CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for eligible people age six months and older, ideally by the end of October for most patients. Vaccination can still be useful later while flu viruses continue circulating.
AIM lists immunizations among its services. Patients can review their vaccination history and discuss which vaccines are appropriate for their age, medical conditions and previous doses. Current product availability should be confirmed when scheduling.
Additional October Themes Relevant to Adult Primary Care
Several other October observances address concerns that may begin with a primary care conversation, even when further evaluation belongs with a specialist.
Eczema Awareness Month and World Psoriasis Day on October 29 highlight inflammatory skin conditions. Psoriasis can also involve psoriatic arthritis, making joint symptoms relevant to the discussion. AIM identifies skin health within its women’s health services and joint-pain care within its broader offerings.
National Audiology Awareness Month and World Sight Day highlight hearing protection and eye care. AIM lists diabetic retinopathy among its service information, but dedicated hearing assessments and comprehensive eye examinations may require audiology or ophthalmology care. Diabetes-related retinal disease can begin before a patient notices changes in vision.
Dysautonomia Awareness Month brings attention to disorders of the autonomic nervous system, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS. Persistent symptoms associated with standing deserve medical assessment. AIM does not list a dedicated dysautonomia program.
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, October 15, reinforces the importance of HIV testing. The CDC recommends at least one HIV test for everyone ages 13 through 64, with additional testing based on risk. Patients can discuss testing and prevention with their primary care clinician.
National Dental Hygiene Month emphasizes oral care, which requires routine attention from dental professionals. Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month also matter in adult medicine because safety, trauma and bereavement can affect health and care needs. Patients can request a private conversation with their clinician about concerns or support needs.
Internal Medicine Day: Connecting the Different Parts of Adult Health
National Internal Medicine Day, observed October 28, recognizes the specialty that brings many of these concerns together. Internists care for adults through prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of multiple conditions.
For patients, October’s observances offer useful reasons to revisit care: a screening that is due, a persistent symptom, a medication question or a chronic condition needing follow-up. The appropriate next step depends on individual history and clinical findings.
Alpharetta & Cumming Internal Medicine serves adult patients through our offices at 1380 Upper Hembree Road in Roswell and 950 Sanders Road in Cumming. To schedule a preventive visit or discuss a health concern, call 770-475-2377.
