• Articles

    Heart Failure Due to Reduced Ejection Fraction: Medical Management

    WILLIAM E. CHAVEY, ROBERT V. HOGIKYAN, R. VAN HARRISON, JOHN M. NICKLAS

    Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are the cornerstone of therapy for heart failure. Clinical trials have also demonstrated consistent mortality benefit from angiotensin receptor blockers, direct-acting vasodilators, beta blockers, and aldosterone antagonists. Recent...

    Esophageal Cancer

    MATTHEW W. SHORT, KRISTINA G. BURGERS, VINCENT T. FRY

    Esophageal cancer has a high mortality rate despite progress in diagnosis and treatment. Although patients are often asymptomatic in the early stages, the most common presentation in advanced disease is dysphagia, with or without unintentional weight loss. Patients with...

    Patient-Centered Communication: Basic Skills

    M. JAWAD HASHIM

    Patient-centered communication is a top element of high-quality health care according to the Institute of Medicine, and it is an intrinsically desirable health care priority, even if its use alone does not improve clinical outcomes. A patient-centered approach to care is...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News: AFP Edition

    AAFP: Don't Add Subspecialists to USPSTF | Surgeon General Issues Report on Drugs | Changes on the Way for Next Spring's ABFM Examination | Campaign Helps Physicians Focus on Obesity

    Editorials

    The CDC's Recommendations to Help Prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

    ANNE SCHUCHAT

    Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) affect an estimated 2% to 5% of children in the United States.1 Persons with FASDs have lifelong behavioral, intellectual, and physical disabilities that are solely the result of maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Through...

    Cochrane for Clinicians

    Extended-Release Bupropion for Preventing Seasonal Affective Disorder in Adults

    MEGAN MAGOVERN, AMY CRAWFORD-FAUCHER

    When started in the fall, extended-release bupropion, 300 mg once daily, is effective in preventing recurrent symptoms in high-risk adults with a history of SAD (number needed to treat [NNT] = 5), as well as those at lower risk (NNT = 8). Headaches, nausea, and insomnia may...

    Interventions to Facilitate Shared Decision Making to Address Antibiotic Use for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care

    TYLER BARRETO, KENNETH W. LIN

    Interventions to facilitate shared decision making reduce the prescribing of antibiotics for acute respiratory tract infections in the short term (within six weeks of the consultation) without increasing return visits or decreasing patient satisfaction (number needed to treat...

    FPIN's Help Desk Answers

    Membrane Sweeping to Decrease Rates of Postdate Induction

    RAE ADAMS, ANNA LICHORAD, JOHN SIMMONS

    In uncomplicated pregnancies, membrane sweeping at 38 to 40 weeks' gestation safely decreases the rate of postdate inductions. Membrane sweeping increases the incidence of spontaneous labor, especially in the subsequent seven days, and results in fewer pregnancies extending...

    Photo Quiz

    Rash in a U.S. Marine After Predeployment Vaccinations

    JASON L. FERGUSON, NICHOLAS M. HANNA

    An active duty U.S. marine presents with a rash after receiving routine predeployment vaccinations.

    Practice Guidelines

    ADA Updates Standards of Medical Care for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

    CARRIE ARMSTRONG

    The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently updated its standards of care to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals, and tools to evaluate the quality of care. Key changes in the 2016 update include new screening recommendations, clarification...

    Medicine by the Numbers

    Alpha-adrenergic Agonists for the Management of Opioid Withdrawal

    MATTHEW ROYALL, KATHRYN K. GARNER, SUSAN HILL, MATTHEW BARNES

    Alpha-adrenergic agonists were more efficacious than placebo in the management of opioid withdrawal, but are best reserved as an alternative to methadone.

    Information from Your Family Doctor

    Heart Failure: What You Should Know

    Heart failure is one of the most common causes of heart-related illness and death in the United States. It happens when the heart can't pump enough blood through your body. The blood backs up and fluid clogs your veins, tissues, and lungs.

    Esophageal Cancer: What You Should Know

    It is the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. Food goes through this tube on the way to your stomach.



    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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