• Articles

    Vitamin B12 Deficiency

    C. ROBERT, DAVID L. BROWN

    Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common cause of macrocytic anemia and has been implicated in a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. Its role in the promotion of atherosclerosis is only now being explored.

    The ‘Crashing Asthmatic’

    JAMES C. HIGGINS

    Key factors in the management of asthma include rapid assessment of the severity of an attack, objective determination of the response to therapy, and identification of the risk of respiratory failure. Patients with severe asthma require aggressive management of exacerbations...

    Alopecia in Women

    C. CAROLYN THIEDKE

    The most common cause of hair loss in women is androgenetic alopecia. Other disorders include alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, cicatricial alopecia, and traumatic alopecias.

    Diagnosing Night Sweats

    ANTHONY J. VIERA, MICHAEL M. BOND, SCOTT W. YATES

    Human immunodeficiency virus infection, gastroesophageal reflux disease, obstructive sleep apnea, hyperthyroidism, and hypoglycemia are common causes of night sweats.

    Delirium

    ONDRIA C. GLEASON

    Delirium affects up to 30 percent of all hospitalized patients with medical illness and more than 50 percent of persons in certain high-risk groups. The symptoms vary and are easily confused with primary psychiatric disorder. The morbidity and mortality associated with...

    Inside AFP

    AFP Welcomes Editors Mark Ebell, M.D., and Allen Shaughnessy, Pharm.D.

    Janis Wright

    AFP is pleased to make a special announcement: We are welcoming two new medical editors to our staff. Mark Ebell, M.D., previous editor of the Journal of Family Practice, will be joining AFP on March 1 as the journal's deputy editor for evidence-based medicine. Dr. Ebell will...

    Graham Center Policy One-Pager

    Consequences of Medical Errors Observed by Family Physicians

    In two studies about medical errors, family physicians reported health, time, and financial consequences in nearly 85 percent of their error reports. Health consequences occurred when the error caused pain, extended or created illness, or placed patients, their families, and...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Matthew Neff

    Bush's 2004 Proposed Budget Includes Revised Medicare Fee Schedule | Campaign Aims to Reduce Risk of SIDS-Related Deaths in Child Care Settings | SCHIP Enrollment Increased 15 Percent to 5.3 Million Children in 2002 | New ‘3-A-Day’ Campaign Promotes Importance of Adequate...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah McNeill, Evans Heather

    How many apples a day does it take to keep the doctor away? The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends up to nine, reports Newsweek. Even though the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food pyramid has recommended five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables since 1991,...

    Editorials

    VBAC: Protecting Patients, Defending Doctors

    MARK DEUTCHMAN, RICHARD G. ROBERTS

    Vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC) appears to go in and out of fashion. Enthusiasm for VBAC peaked in 1996, when 28.3 percent of women with previous cesarean delivery underwent trial of labor, and declined to 16.5 percent in 2001.1,2 Growing concerns about uterine...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    “I'm a mess,” Gwen confessed. Struggling to hold back her tears, this 54-year-old woman described a recent history of feeling nervous, shaky, and hot. She had unintentionally lost 12 lb, even though her appetite was good. Lately, she'd been experiencing palpitations. Less...

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Childhood Constipation

    GREGORY P. RUBIN

    What are the effects of treatments for childhood constipation?

    Photo Quiz

    Vesicular Rash on the Flank and Buttock

    ALEXANDER K.C. LEUNG, MASSOUD RAFAAT

    Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

    Practice Guidelines

    CDC Updates Guidelines for Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease

    Carrie A. Morantz

    The National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) recently issued revised guidelines for prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal (GBS) disease. GBS disease remains one of the leading causes of newborn morbidity and mortality, resulting in an estimated 1,600 early-onset...

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Carrie MorantzTorrey, Torrey Brian

    ACS Recommendations for Detection of Cervical Cancer | Buprenorphine Physician Training Sessions | CDC Guidelines for Hand Hygiene | FDA Approval | Intervention May Reduce Teen Driving Risk | Medication Errors in Acute Cardiac Care

    Curbside Consultation

    Do I Get to Decide Who Should Have a Baby?

    HARRY J. LIEMAN

    In this case scenario, the patient believes that having her boyfriend's child will solve her problems, and she wants to continue the ovulation induction therapy. The physician should consider the effects on the unborn child's future, as well as the future of the mother and,...

    Letters to the Editor

    Misuse of the Evidence-Based Medicine Approach

    James H. Matthews

    FPs Should Reconsider the Use of Hospitalists for Patients

    David Platt

    Calf Muscle Therapy for Achilles Tendinosis

    Preventing Hypotension Effect of Calcium Channel Blockers

    Letters to the Editor

    Possible Dangerous Interaction of OxyContin and Carisoprodol

    ROY R. REEVES, JAMES E. MACK

    Probable Relationship Between Opioid Abuse and Heroin Use

    HARVEY A. SIEGAL, ROBERT G. CARLSON, DERIC R. KENNE, MARIA G. SWORA

    Tips from Other Journals

    Ezetimibe, a New Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Risk of Breast Cancer Depends on Type of HRT Used

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Atrial Fibrillation: Rhythm Control or Rate Control?

    BILL ZEPF

    Exercise Prescription for Patients with Claudication

    BILL ZEPF

    Intermittent Sertraline in Women with Severe PMDD

    ANNE D. WALLING

    New Technique for Ectocervical Biopsy

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Moderate Fish Intake Reduces Ischemic Stroke Risk in Men

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Insulin Pumps in Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Clopidogrel vs. Aspirin in Preventing Acute MI

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Paddle Position Makes a Difference in Cardioversion

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Quadruple or Triple Therapies for Helicobacter pylori

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Diagnosis and Treatment of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Glucose Reduces Pain of Venipuncture in Infants

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Evaluating Elevated Liver Chemistry Test Results

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Eating Nuts and Peanut Butter Lowers Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Is There an Association Between MMR and Autism?

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Indo-Mediterranean Diet Reduces Cardiac Risk

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Reducing Breast Cancer Mortality in Black Women

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Inhaled vs. Systemic Corticosteroids in Asthma

    KARL E. MILLER

    A Collaborative Care Model to Treat Late-Life Depression

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Nontraditional Symptoms in Women with Strokes

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    Safe Beta Blockers in Patients with Reactive Airway Disease

    RICHARD SADOVSKY

    HPV Type 16 Vaccine Helps Prevent Cervical Cancer

    BILL ZEPF

    Dietary Strategies for Preventing Heart Disease

    CAROLINE WELLBERY

    Statin Use in Older Adults at Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke

    ANNE D. WALLING

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Vitamin B12

    Vitamin B12 is an important vitamin that you usually get from your food. It is mainly found in meat and dairy products. Vitamin B12 helps make red blood cells and keeps your nervous system working right.

    Hair Loss in Women

    Hair loss in women is common and can be very upsetting. It can happen anywhere on the body but most often happens on the scalp. The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. (Say: al-oh-pee-sha)

    Memory Loss

    There are several reasons why you could be losing your memory. Age is usually the cause. Information is stored in three different parts of your memory: the short-term memory, the recent memory, and the remote memory. Information stored in the short-term memory may include the...

    Dementia: What Are the Common Signs?

    Dementia is a problem in the brain that makes it hard for a person to remember, learn, or communicate. After a while, this problem makes it hard for the person to take care of himself or herself.

    Grieving: Facing Illness, Death, and Other Losses

    Grief is a normal, healthy response to loss. One of the greatest losses that can occur is the death of someone you love. Other losses include the loss of your health or the health of someone you care about, or the end of an important relationship, such as a marriage. Healing...

    Corrections

    Corrections

    Corrections



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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