• Articles

    An Approach to Interpreting Spirometry

    TIMOTHY J. BARREIRO, IRENE PERILLO

    Basic spirometry can be performed in the family physician's office with relative ease and inexpensive equipment. Knowledge of appropriate reference values is essential. A simplified and stepwise method is key to interpreting spirometry.

    Palmoplantar Hyperhidrosis: A Therapeutic Challenge

    ISABELLE THOMAS, JUSTIN BROWN, JANET VAFAIE, ROBERT A. SCHWARTZ

    Treatment options for patients with palmoplantar hyperhidrosis include topical and systemic agents, iontophoresis, and botulinum toxin type A injections, with surgical sympathectomy reserved for use in severe cases. Although the safety and effectiveness of treatments have...

    Urticaria and Angioedema: A Practical Approach

    Barbara A. Muller

    Diagnosis of urticaria and angioedema can be challenging, especially if symptoms are chronic or minimally responsive to therapy. A thorough medical history, physical examination, and methodical investigation are necessary to uncover diagnostic clues.

    Gastric Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

    JOHN C. LAYKE, PETER P. LOPEZ

    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is the preferred modality for evaluation of patients suspected of having gastric cancer. Accurate staging is important for prognosis and appropriate treatment.

    Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children

    JAMES CHAN, JENNIFER C. EDMAN, PETER J. KOLTAI

    Left untreated, obstructive sleep apnea in infants and children can cause failure to thrive, poor academic performance, behavior problems, enuresis and, in severe cases, cardiopulmonary disease. Treatment options include antibiotics, continuous positive airway pressure,...

    Practical Selection of Antiemetics

    ZACHARY A. FLAKE, ROBERT D. SCALLEY, AUSTIN G. BAILEY

    Treatment of nausea and vomiting involves correcting the underlying cause when possible. With an understanding of the pathophysiology of nausea and the mechanisms of antiemetics, family physicians can improve the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of therapy.

    Common Intestinal Parasites

    CORRY JEB KUCIK, GARY L. MARTIN, BRETT V. SORTOR

    Intestinal parasites cause significant morbidity and mortality. Diseases caused by Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia lamblia, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, and Entamoeba histolytica occur in the United States. E. vermicularis, or pinworm, causes irritation and...

    Inside AFP

    A Gastrointestinal Review

    Janis Wright

    Partly inspired by the stomach viruses going around this time of year, and partly inspired by the amount of work on our desks, we've decided to dub this our heartburn issue. Here in these pages you'll find a tour d'horizon of gastrointestinal problems ranging from nausea,...

    Newsletter

    Newsletter

    Matthew Neff

    HHS Launches Campaign to Educate Seniors About Medicare Benefits | Study Shows Link Between Diabetes, Obesity, and Other Chronic Illnesses | AAFP Establishes First Combined Family Medicine Residency/MBA Program | Fact Sheet Examines Effects of Being Uninsured on Access to...

    Quantum Sufficit

    Quantum Sufficit

    Sarah Evans Heather McNeill

    A connection between stress and Alzheimer's disease? As reported in The New York Times, researchers surveyed 800 priests, nuns, and monks (average age: 75 years) in the Religious Orders Study on their “distress proneness” (i.e., how likely it was that reactions to stress...

    Editorials

    Exercise During Pregnancy: What Do We Really Know?

    SUSAN SNYDER, BERNADETTE PENDERGRAPH

    As a result of a number of recent studies on exercise in pregnancy, the debate over the risks of aerobic exercise in pregnancy has waned. In January 2002, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued an opinion report stating that “In the absence of...

    Confidential Reproductive Care for Adolescents

    IAN BENNETT, PETER CRONHOLM, M.S.C.E. RICHARD NEILL, LARISSA CHISM

    Primary care physicians provide the majority of reproductive health care services for minors.1 As family physicians, we need to emphasize the primary role of the family as an irreplaceable health resource. Ideally, parents play an integral and supportive role in the health of...

    Food Insecurity in the United States: Its Effect on Our Patients

    DAVID H. HOLBEN, WAYNE MYLES

    The term “food security” refers to the concept of people having access to enough food, including the ready availability of nutritionally adequate, safe foods for an active, healthy life and the ability to acquire these foods in socially acceptable ways.1 When individuals and...

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    Diary from a Week in Practice

    If he had his druthers, Andy Zeno would spend his every waking moment fishing. Three days earlier, the 71-year-old man was reeling in a fish when he suddenly felt extremely weak. He lay on the beach for over an hour, hoping the sensation would pass. Somehow, he managed to...

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    HIV: Mother-to-Child Transmission

    JIMMY VOLMINK

    What are the effects of measures to reduce mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)?

    Putting Prevention Into Practice

    Screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

    KENNETH FINK, BARBARA CLARK

    Case study: MT is a 23-year-old woman visiting your office for her initial prenatal checkup. She has a family history of diabetes and is obese. MT developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during her previous pregnancy, and because she is concerned about having GDM, she...

    Photo Quiz

    Tongue Bump

    KATHLEEN B. ELMER, TIMOTHY L. GARDNER, DENISE GOKSEL

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

    Patient Information Collection

    Chronic Pain Medicines

    Pain Relievers: Understanding Your Options

    POEMs

    Metronidazole vs. Azelaic Acid for Acne Rosacea

    Mark Ebell

    Yogurt Prevents Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea

    David Slawson

    Efalizumab Effective in Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis

    Henry Barry

    Behavior Therapy and Tapering Benzodiazepines

    Mark Ebell

    Practice Guidelines

    Practice Guidelines

    Matthew Neff

    ACC/AHA and ASNC Release Guidelines for the Clinical Use of Cardiac Radionuclide Imaging

    Practice Guidelines

    Genevieve W. Ressel

    ACOG Releases Report on Dystocia and Augmentation of Labor

    Clinical Briefs

    Clinical Briefs

    Carrie Morantz, Brian Torrey

    Diagnosis and Treatment of Anal Fissure | Scientific Exhibit Deadline for AAFP Assembly | Ongoing Care After Cancer Treatment | Online Resources to Combat Obesity, Boost Health | Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery | Call for Papers of Family Medicine Research Presentations...

    Curbside Consultation

    Cutting Back on High-Dosage Narcotics

    RICHARD T. KATZ

    Over the past decade, the promotion of narcotics for control of malignant and non-malignant pain has been advocated by specialists in the pain community. While most physicians accept the use of aggressive narcotic analgesia in patients with cancer-related pain, the use of...

    Letters to the Editor

    Vocal Cord Dysfunction

    Jeff Leggit

    Management of Swimming-Induced Pulmonary Edema

    Jason A. Yoder, Anthony J. Viera

    Tips from Other Journals

    Use of Viral Cultures for Diagnosing CRVs in Children

    Richard Sadovsky

    Normal Control in Pregnant Women with Hypothyroidism

    Anne D. Walling

    Low Total Cholesterol and Increased Mortality in Elderly

    Caroline Wellbery

    Prognostic Value of Total Cholesterol in the Elderly

    Caroline Wellbery

    Can Women Self-Screen for Cervical Abnormalities?

    Anne D. Walling

    Effect of Otitis Media and Tympanostomy Tubes

    Caroline Wellbery

    Diagnosing and Managing Endometriosis

    Anne D. Walling

    Anthrax Treatment Reviewed for Serious Adverse Events

    Bill Zepf

    Extending the Interval Between Pap Smears

    Bill Zepf

    Inflammatory Markers in Coronary Artery Disease

    Richard Sadovsky

    Screening for Aortic Aneurysms May Be a Good Idea

    Richard Sadovsky

    Effects of Oral Contraceptive Use in Older Smokers

    Anne D. Walling

    Impact on Bed Partners of Patients with Sleep Apnea

    Karl E. Miller

    Knee Taping Benefits Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis

    Anne D. Walling

    Chlorhexidine vs. Povidone-Iodine for Catheter Site Care

    Bill Zepf

    Vaginal Delivery Affects Pelvic Organ Support

    Anne D. Walling

    Which Type of Fecal Occult Blood Test Is Better?

    Karl E. Miller

    Evaluation of Patients with Microscopic Hematuria

    Bill Zepf

    Early Discontinuation of Osteoporosis Treatment

    Karl E. Miller

    Efficacy of Corticosteroids in Acute Exacerbations of COPD

    Richard Sadovsky

    Physical Performance and Anemia Among Older Patients

    Karl E. Miller

    Methotrexate vs. Cyclosporine for Widespread Psoriasis

    Bill Zepf

    Proper Bicycle Helmet Fit Reduces Head Injuries

    Caroline Wellbery

    Low-Intensity Warfarin Anticoagulation Revisited

    Bill Zepf

    What Is the Best Treatment for Chronic Neck Pain?

    Anne D. Walling

    Evaluating Abnormal Mammogram Results

    Richard Sadovsky

    Effect of Bisphosphonate Therapy on Bone Metastases

    Anne D. Walling

    Benefits of Incomplete Courses of Antenatal Corticosteroids

    Anne D. Walling

    Effects of Automobile Crashes Occurring During Pregnancy

    Anne D. Walling

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Pain Relievers: Understanding Your Options

    Over-the-counter (OTC, for short) medicines are medicines that you can buy without a prescription from your doctor. OTC pain relievers for adults can be divided into two groups: acetaminophen (one brand name: Tylenol) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, for short).

    Sweaty Hands and Feet

    The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet have more sweat glands than any other part of your body. Some people have hands and feet that sweat a lot. This problem is common and can be very embarrassing.

    What Should I Know About Stomach Cancer?

    Stomach cancer, which is also called gastric cancer, is the growth of cells that are not normal in the lining and wall of the stomach. The stomach is the organ where food is digested.

    Sleep Apnea in Children

    Snoring happens during sleep when the throat muscles relax and the airway narrows. When the throat muscles relax, the nose is blocked. Snoring is common in children and may be a cause for concern.

    Nausea and Vomiting

    Nausea and vomiting are common when you are sick. They also can be side effects of certain medicines. Some people have nausea and vomiting after surgery. Many pregnant women have nausea and vomiting in the first three months of pregnancy.

    Exercise for the Elderly

    It is safe for most adults older than 65 years to exercise. Even people with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis can exercise safely. Many of these health conditions get better with exercise. If you are not sure if exercise is safe for you or if you...

    Osteoporosis

    In osteoporosis (say “os-tee-oh-por-oh-sis”), the inside of the bones becomes weak because of a loss of calcium. This is called losing bone mass. Bone weakness makes your bones more likely to break.

    Osteoarthritis: How to Stay Active

    Arthritis is the name for inflammation of the joints. Arthritis causes pain and usually limits movement of the joints that are affected. There are many kinds of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common.

    Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing: Tips to Share with Your Doctor

    Tell the receptionist if calling your name is not the best way to tell you that the doctor is ready to see you.

    Falls: How to Lower Your Risk

    Anyone can fall, although the risk is higher in older people. Each year, falls occur in about one third of people 75 years or older who are living in their homes. This increased risk of falling may be the result of changes that come with aging plus other medical conditions,...

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    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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